Capacity of a cis-diammineplatinum[II]-polyglutamic acid complex to cure Trypanosoma congolense infections in mice.

A cis-diammineplatinum(II)-polyglutamic acid complex proved to have marked trypanocidal activity in vivo. When 5 mg of platinum per kg was administered daily for 5 days or when 20 mg of platinum per kg was administered on days 1, 3, and 6, five of five treated Trypanosoma congolense-infected mice were cured. In contrast, cis-platin was ineffective at all doses tested. We believe that the complex has a much higher therapeutic ratio than does uncomplexed drug because it is less toxic.