Patent Evaluation: Method of neutralizing IL-1 using dsRNAs

Summary

Novelty: The clinical symptoms resulting from elevated levels of interleukin-1, including debilitation, lethargy, intellectual deterioration and impaired performance, may be reduced by treatment with double stranded RNA.

Biology: Thirty-eight patients diagnosed as having elevated interleukin-1 levels were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using a treatment regime of double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Over a six month period treatment with a mismatched dsRNA preparation was shown to result in a significant amelioration of IL-1 related symptoms.

Chemistry: The typical mismatched dsRNA was a complex of polyinosinate and polycytidy-late containing from 1–5 to 1–30 uracil guanidine bases.