title: New advances in hepatitis C therapy.
abstract: There is encouraging news for people with hepatitis C virus (HCV). A new form of interferon-alfa, known as peg-interferon (PEG-Intron form Schering Plough), shows better activity than the current version of the drug. This new version is bound to a chemical (called polyethylene glycol), which makes the drug active in the blood for longer periods than standard interferon-alfa. PI Perspective 29 reported on early results of a different peg-interferon (Pegasys) that also showed improved activity over the existing therapy.
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017277:Drug Approval; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a