title: A brief history of interferon's trajectory to clinical application, and personal reminiscences of a large-scale human interferon production initiative.
abstract: In a first part of this historical article, the author overviews how, over the half century since the first in vitro demonstration of interferon, systems for large-scale production of human interferon have been elaborated and how these efforts have allowed for evaluation of the clinical potential of the different molecular types of interferon. In a second part the author reflects in more detail on research activities in Belgium aimed at production of human interferon.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute for Medical Research - K.U.Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10 - B 3000 Leuven.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Billiau
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons