Standardization of the Immunopharmacology of Natural and Synthetic Immunomodulators : Proceedings of the Above Symposium Held at Palais des Congres, Annecy/France, May 1991

Immunomodulators - compounds capable of modulating the immune response - are today used primarily in cancer immunotherapy and the prevention or treatment of recurrent respiratory tract infections. They belong to a pharmacological class composed of drugs that are very heterogeneous in terms of both their origins and their effects on the immune system. Standardization of such a heterogeneous group of agents raises considerable difficulties at each stage from the screening of a potentially active compound, over its development, production and control, to preclinical evaluation and clinical trials. This volume summarizes a body of experience and presents essential guidelines for the in vitro, preclinical and clinical evaluation of immunomodulators. It documents the results of active collaboration among immunologists, clinicians, toxicologists, statisticians, and scientists from industry covering all major aspects of the standardization of immunomodulators.