The chemotherapy of viral infections

ABSTRACT

Only methisazone and amantadine of the synthetic antiviral agents are commercially available for general use, and they are used only prophylactically. Interferon inducers are promising but as yet untested in man. No doubt effective chemotherapeutic agents will in time become available but for the present and immediate future, vaccines will provide the first line of defence against disease. Methods of immunization are bound to improve and with an increasing awareness of public health measures the role of antiviral chemotherapeutic agents though important, will be minor. (Summary)