Interferon

Toine Peters is senior research fellow at the Department of Metamedica of the VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, and Professor of History of Pharmacy at Groningen University, the Netherlands.

• Introduction 1. Interferon's Birth Starting a British/Swiss collaboration in a London laboratory Intimate interplay between thought and action in Room 215 Writing 'Interferon' Isaac's Interferon Kitchen 2. Shaping a New Field of Research: Investigating Interferon(s) Interferon going public The Antiviral Penicillin Misinterpretation From the brink to revival: meeting the others Debating Interferon's mode of operation: the specificity effect What's in a name? The blossoming of a new subfield 3. Interferon on Trial A partnership originating in national interests Establishing a collaborative programme for research on Interferon Preparations for an early trial in volunteers Handling production and safety problems The Lancet report Interferon losing its momentum No 'magic bullet' 4. Managing Differences Portrait of a 'gift culture' Creating a breeding-ground for standardization An experiment in scientific communication Safeguarding British interests A Finnish detour Wrestling standards 'Having to haul down one's colours' 5. About Mice, Malignancies and Experimental Therapies Interfering with cancer Hoping for patients to behave like laboratory mice Mathilde Krim's Interferon lobby Staging a workshop on Interferon in the treatment of cancer Attempts to put Interferon on the cancer map 6. Interferon, Audiences and Cancer Capitalizing on a growing demand for unorthodox cancer remedies Interferon, scientists and the media Hailing a miracle drug Gene dreams and the inflation of expectations Coping with an imminent black market 7. Yet Another Twist: Marketing Interferon as a Helpful Neighbour Beyond Interferon A drug looking for a disease Naturalizing Interferons as biological response modifiers and cytokines 8. Interferons in Retrospect and Prospect Patients at work Crafting Interferon(s) Seeking 'magic bullets' 'Doctoring' the media Toward genetic medicine Patients at risk?

'This book is compelling reading for those interested in the interferon story, including the historical background and the scientists behind the discovery. The book is a thorough and readable account that is unique for interferon and has parallels with other major discoveries.' - Samuel Baron, M.D., University of Texas Medical Branch"I heartily recommend the book to a wide audience, not just those interested in the history and social studies of science and medicine. Pieters has successfully let interferon appear in its multiple guises, its inventions and reinventions, not only in its own right but for all those who handled it. For it is important to remember that identity formation goes both ways: as interferon changed so did its handlers. Enjoy the read." - Dr. Jordan Goodman, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology"The book is pleasant reading and flavored with many interesting and illuminating anecdotes reflecting milestones along the interferon saga" Nature Medicine 'Without doubt a stimulating book, refreshing old debates regarding thenature of biomedicine, the way we write about it, as well as pointing to new frontiers' - Medical History