In 1969 research scientist and physician Dr. Sidney Pestka started a research into a protein callled interferon,Which he knew was involved in the immune system's response to viruses, bacteria, allergens,and even cancer, Pestka wanted to know its role and whether it could be used to create antiviral drug.
Interferon is a very rare protein and it is provided very difficult to get enough of pure sample to experiment with. Pestka eventually refined a method called reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, which allowed for the purification of interferon in large enough quantities to study its mechanism of action. He found that interferon,secreted by human cells when they are under attack, work in two ways. First, it signals to neighboring cells to trigger their resistance mechanism, and second, it switches on immune cells that kill invading pathogens
In 1975 Pestka used newly emerging recombinant DNA technology to clone interferon, and the early1980s . it was being used in clinical trials to boost immune responses. He published his findings in 1983, and his new anti viral drug was granted FDA approval in 1986. pestka's pioneering achievement has since given birth to a multi- billion- dollar industry.