Chapter 15. Immunoactive Agents and Immunotherapy The human body
protects itself from invading viruses, bacteria and other
pathogens by a complex, interacting arsenal of detection,
recognition, activation/inactivation and destruction mechanisms,
collectively known as the immune system. Some of these involve
the production of freely-circulating antibodies by B lymphocytes
(humoral immunity), while others involve the local action of a
variety of T lymphocytes (cellular immunity). Some T lymphocytes
secrete signalling chemicals (cytokines), such as interleukins
and interferons, which can stimulate and regulate a more
effective immune Israel's international reputation in this
field, and indeed her first major financially successful
biotechnology product, began in 1978, with the formation of
Interpharm Laboratories (see below). Interpharm developed and
marketed the world's first commercial, recombinantly-derived
human beta-interferon. Interpharm's 60-person R&D staff has gone
on to produce a variety of other cytok