Studies on the toxicity and antiviral activity of various polynucleotides.

Various polynucleotides were examined for antiviral activity and toxicity in mice. Although the antiviral potency of the various interferon inducers varied, there was a concomitant variation in toxicity. This was reflected by a fivefold range in therapeutic ratio for the various compounds. In addition, no polynucleotide proved to be a more potent interferon inducer than polyinosinic.polycytidylic acid [(poly rI).(poly rC)]. Our results suggest that there may be intrinsic limitations to the development of polynucleotide interferon inducers having improved therapeutic ratios.