PROPHYLAXIS OF INFLUENZA WITH A SYNTHETIC ISOQUINOLINE

Abstract

Volunteers were treated for 7 days with 1.5 g. daily oral doses of an isoquinoline drug. A similar number of controls received inert placebo. 1 day after the start of treatment both groups were challenged with intranasal instillation of living influenza-B virus. Of thirty-four people given drug, seven had symptoms and nine had laboratory evidence of infection. Of thirty-three given placebo, thirteen had symptoms and seventeen had laboratory evidence of infection. When used prophylactically therefore the drug reduced by half the incidence of clinical illness and of virus infection.