Consensus interferon: a novel interferon for the treatment of hepatitis C.
Although alpha interferons are currently the only therapies approved for treatment of HCV infection approximately half of the treated patients do not respond to the standard regimen of IFN-alpha-2b 3 MU administered 3 times per week (tiw) for 6 to 12 months. Of those who do demonstrate a response, 50-80% will relapse within 6 months after treatment cessation. Thus, the overall response to treatment is low. This paper focuses on studies that have been conducted with a newly developed interferon, Consensus Interferon (CIFN), in the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C. This type-1 interferon links the most common occurring amino acid sequences at each position of available natural alpha interferons into one 'consensus' protein. The thus synthesized molecule shows a 10-fold higher in vitro biological activity as compared to single recombinant IFN-alpha-2b or IFN-alpha-2a, possibly due to its greater binding affinity to interferon receptors. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, CIFN 9 micrograms, three times weekly for 24 weeks, proved to be equally efficacious and as safe as IFN-alpha-2b, but compared to 3 MU IFN-alpha-2b, CIFN 9 micrograms demonstrated improved responses in patients with high baseline viral titres. Retreatment of subjects who had responded but relapsed following standard dose IFN therapy for 6 months, with 15 micrograms CIFN three times weekly for 48 weeks, resulted in a sustained virological response rate of 58%. When previous non-responders to standard IFN therapy were retreated a 13% sustained response to the higher dose of CIFN for 48 weeks was observed. The higher dose of CIFN was well-tolerated and not associated with an increase in the incidence of side-effects. CIFN proved to be an effective and safe therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C and the retreatment of patients who either failed previous interferon treatment or had relapsed after its cessation.
Heathcote
J
J
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019233:Retreatment
D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase