Inosine pranobex. A preliminary review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy.

Inosine pranobex is a synthetic compound formed from the p-acetamido benzoate salt of N-N dimethylamino-2-propanol and inosine in a 3:1 molar ratio. It has been reported to exert antiviral and antitumour activities in vivo which are secondary to an immunomodulating effect, and early results suggest beneficial clinical effects in several diseases and infections including mucocutaneous Herpes simplex infections, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, genital warts, influenza, zoster, and type B viral hepatitis, as well as in homosexual men with persistent generalised lymphadenopathy. However, many of the studies have been preliminary in nature and deficient in design or in the reporting of their results. One must therefore conclude that while inosine pranobex may prove to be a valuable and innovative therapy for a number of diseases and infections for which no satisfactory therapy exist, further long term well controlled studies in larger numbers of patients are required before definitive conclusions about the efficacy of inosine pranobex in these disorders will be possible.