Topical treatment of vaccinia virus infection with an interferon inducer in rabbits.

Ointment containing 1.7 mg/g of the interferon inducer poly (ICLC) (a complex of polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid and with poly-L-lysine and carboxymethylcellulose) was effective both prophylactically and therapeutically against vaccinia virus infection in rabbit skin. Poly (ICLC)-treated animals developed higher titers of local interferon and of circulating virus-neutralizing antibodies than placebo-treated animals. Serum levels of greater than 100 units of interferon/ml were found 24 hr after application of the poly (ICLC) ointment to the skin of uninfected rabbits.