Patent ID: 7919078

Claim:
A mutated human interferon α2 (IFNα2) polypeptide comprising at least two mutations in SEQ ID NO: 2, with the mutations selected from the group consisting of (a) mutation of the histidine at position 57 to a residue selected from the group consisting of tyrosine and methionine; (b) mutation of the glutamate at position 58 to a residue selected from the group consisting of asparagine, aspartate, leucine, and alanine; and (c) mutation of the glutamine at position 61 to a residue selected from the group consisting of serine, leucine, and aspartate; and combinations thereof of mutations (a), (b), and (c), wherein the mutation increases the affinity of the mutated human IFNa2 polypeptide for the IFNAR1 subunit of the interferon receptor (IFNAR) relative to wild-type IFN-α2.