title: Historical review of thymosin α 1 in infectious diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thymosin α 1 (Tα1) is a peptidic biological response modifier, which plays a significant role in activating and regulating various cells of the immune system. For the above-mentioned activities it is expected to exert a clinical benefit in the treatment of diseases where the immune system is altered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several clinical trials have been carried out with Tα1 for treatment or prevention of many different infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, sepsis and Aspergillosis in bone marrow-transplanted patients. Data available on the use of Tα1 in infectious disease as well as a vaccine enhancer will be reviewed to possibly generate new working hypothesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tα1 has been widely used in thousands of patients. Nevertheless, there are some issues that have not yet been properly addressed (i.e., dose, schedule, combination treatments, end-points to be evaluated in clinical trials). In the most recent clinical trials Tα1 has been used at higher doses than those commonly used in the past showing a direct proportionality between the dose and the effect. The safety profile of Tα1 is excellent and it is virtually devoid of toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Sigma-tau SpA, R&D Department , Via Pontina km 30.400, 00040 Pomezia , Italy +390691393562 ; roberto.camerini@sigma-tau.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Camerini
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garaci
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin
keywords: immune modulation; immune system; infectious diseases; thymosin α 1; vaccine enhancer