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Pegylated interferon alfa-2a, sold under the brand name Pegasys among others, is medication used to treat hepatitis C and hepatitis B. For hepatitis C it is typically used together with ribavirin and cure rates are between 24 and 92%. For hepatitis B it may be used alone. It is given by injection under the skin.

Side effects are common. They may include headache, feeling tired, depression, trouble sleeping, hair loss, nausea, pain at the site of injection, and fever. Severe side effects may include psychosis, autoimmune disorders, blood clots, or infections. Use with ribavirin is not recommended during pregnancy. Pegylated interferon alfa-2a is in the alpha interferon family of medications. It is pegylated to protect the molecule from breakdown.

Pegylated interferon alfa-2a was approved for medical use in the United States in 2002. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

Medical uses

This drug is approved around the world for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (including people with HIV co-infection, cirrhosis, 'normal' levels of ALT) and has recently been approved (in the EU, U.S., China and many other countries) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. It is also used in the treatment of certain T-cell lymphomas, particularly mycosis fungoides.

Peginterferon alfa-2a is a long acting interferon. Interferons are proteins released in the body in response to viral infections. Interferons are important for fighting viruses in the body, for regulating reproduction of cells, and for regulating the immune system.

Host genetic factors

For genotype 1 hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2a or pegylated interferon alfa-2b combined with ribavirin, it has been shown that genetic polymorphisms near the human IL28B gene, encoding interferon lambda 3, are associated with significant differences in response to the treatment. This finding, originally reported in Nature, showed genotype 1 hepatitis C patients carrying certain genetic variant alleles near the IL28B gene are more likely to achieve sustained virological response after the treatment than others. Another report in Nature demonstrated the same genetic variants are also associated with the natural clearance of the genotype 1 hepatitis C virus.

Manufacturing

It is pegylated with a branched 40 kg/mol PEG chain.

Society and culture

Availability

Peginterferon alfa-2a is manufactured under the brand name Pegasys. In 2021, Roche Pharmaceuticals sold the worldwide rights of Pegasys (excluding China and Japan) to zr pharma& GmbH (pharma&). In May 2022, Roche Australia transferred the sales and marketing of Pegasys to Echo Therapeutics Pty Ltd.

Research

A Cochrane Review sought to determine whether interferon alfa-2a could be used as a treatment for individuals with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. They found no evidence of improved visual acuity with potential harm.

References

1. "FDA-sourced list of all drugs with black box warnings (Use Download Full Results and View Query links.)". nctr-crs.fda.gov. FDA. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
2. "Pegasys EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 20 June 2002. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
3. ^ "Peginterferon Alfa-2a (Professional Patient Advice) - Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
4. "Pegasys 135 mcg and 180 mcg solution for injection in pre-filled pen - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
5. British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 639. ISBN 9780857111562.
6. ^ "Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) - Treatment - Hepatitis C Online". www.hepatitisc.uw.edu. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
7. World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
8. "Interferon alfa-2a Uses, Side Effects & Warnings". Drugs.com. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
9. Ge D, Fellay J, Thompson AJ, et al. (2009). "Genetic variation in IL28B predicts hepatitis C treatment-induced viral clearance". Nature. 461 (7262): 399–401. Bibcode:2009Natur.461..399G. doi:10.1038/nature08309. PMID 19684573. S2CID 1707096.
10. Thomas DL, Thio CL, Martin MP, et al. (2009). "Genetic variation in IL28B and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus". Nature. 461 (7265): 798–801. Bibcode:2009Natur.461..798T. doi:10.1038/nature08463. PMC 3172006. PMID 19759533.
11. Rajender Reddy K, Modi MW, Pedder S (June 2002). "Use of peginterferon alfa-2a (40 KD) (Pegasys) for the treatment of hepatitis C". Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 54 (4): 571–86. doi:10.1016/s0169-409x(02)00028-5. PMID 12052715.
12. "Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a)". Genentech. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
13. "Verzichtserklärung der Zulassung - Mittelfristig läuft Pegasys aus" (PDF). www.roche.de (German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
14. "Pegasys (Peginterferon alfa-2a) langfristig weiterhin erhältlich" (PDF). Roche (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
15. "pharma& portfolio". zr pharma& GmbH. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
16. "HALF-YEAR REPORT 2021, p.20" (PDF). Roche. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
17. "Pegasys". Roche Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
18. Reddy U, Krzystolik M (2006). "Antiangiogenic therapy with interferon alfa for neovascular age-related macular degeneration". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 1 (1): CD005138. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005138.pub2. PMID 16437522.

External links

• Pegasys at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

• Medicine
• Viruses

• CYP1A2 inhibitors
• Antiviral drugs
• Immunostimulants
• World Health Organization essential medicines
• Drugs developed by Hoffmann-La Roche
• Drugs developed by Genentech
• Withdrawn drugs