Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD) plus ribavirin: a review of its use in the management of chronic hepatitis C mono-infection - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD) plus ribavirin: a review of its use in the management of chronic hepatitis C mono-infection

Susan J Keam et al. Drugs. 2008.

Abstract

Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD) [PEGASYS] is a conjugate of recombinant interferon-alpha-2a and a 40 kD branched polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety that is highly active against hepatitis C virus (HCV). Ribavirin (COPEGUS) is a synthetic nucleoside analogue that acts in synergy with the antiviral activity of peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD). The combination of subcutaneous peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD) once weekly plus oral ribavirin twice daily is widely approved for use in adult patients with chronic hepatitis C, including those with persistently 'normal' ALT activity or HIV-HCV co-infection, and is recommended as a first-line treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis C and compensated liver disease. In randomized, phase III trials, the combination has consistently demonstrated good therapeutic efficacy (i.e. high sustained virological response [SVR] rates) and has been generally well tolerated in both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients with chronic hepatitis C, including those with compensated advanced liver disease. Several baseline and dynamic (on-treatment) predictors of SVR that can be used to guide and optimize therapy were also determined in these trials and in subsequent analyses. By utilizing these predictors, therapy with peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD) plus ribavirin can be individualized to achieve the optimal balance between efficacy and tolerability, further increasing the usefulness of this drug combination. Thus, peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD) plus ribavirin remains a valuable therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C, as a first-line option in those with compensated liver disease and as a second-line therapy in those with advanced liver disease.

PubMed Disclaimer

Cited by

Identification of small molecules with type I interferon inducing properties by high-throughput screening.
Martínez-Gil L, Ayllon J, Ortigoza MB, García-Sastre A, Shaw ML, Palese P. Martínez-Gil L, et al. PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e49049. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049049. Epub 2012 Nov 7. PLoS One. 2012. PMID: 23145065 Free PMC article.
Viral hepatitis C therapy: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations.
de Kanter CT, Drenth JP, Arends JE, Reesink HW, van der Valk M, de Knegt RJ, Burger DM. de Kanter CT, et al. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2014 May;53(5):409-27. doi: 10.1007/s40262-014-0142-5. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2014. PMID: 24723109 Review.
Pathogenesis of 1918 pandemic and H5N1 influenza virus infections in a guinea pig model: antiviral potential of exogenous alpha interferon to reduce virus shedding.
Van Hoeven N, Belser JA, Szretter KJ, Zeng H, Staeheli P, Swayne DE, Katz JM, Tumpey TM. Van Hoeven N, et al. J Virol. 2009 Apr;83(7):2851-61. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02174-08. Epub 2009 Jan 14. J Virol. 2009. PMID: 19144714 Free PMC article.
Envelope 2 protein phosphorylation sites S75 & 277 of hepatitis C virus genotype 1a and interferon resistance: a sequence alignment approach.
Afzal S, Idrees M, Ali M, Ilyas M, Hussain A, Akram M, Butt S, Saleem S, Rehman IU, Ali L, Shahid M. Afzal S, et al. Virol J. 2011 Feb 15;8:71. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-71. Virol J. 2011. PMID: 21320352 Free PMC article.
Mutations in the E2-PePHD region of hepatitis C virus genotype-3a and correlation with response to interferon and ribavirin combination therapy in Pakistani patients.
Afzal S, Idrees M, Akram M, Awan Z, Khubaib B, Aftab M, Fatima Z, Badar S, Hussain A. Afzal S, et al. Virol J. 2010 Dec 31;7:377. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-7-377. Virol J. 2010. PMID: 21194456 Free PMC article.

References

1. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Mar 2;140(5):370-81 - PubMed
1. Gastroenterology. 2004 Apr;126(4):1015-23; discussion 947 - PubMed
1. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Mar 1;17(5):611-21 - PubMed
1. Lancet. 2001 Sep 22;358(9286):958-65 - PubMed
1. J Hepatol. 2004 Jun;40(6):1032-5 - PubMed

Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40 kD) plus ribavirin: a review of its use in the management of chronic hepatitis C mono-infection - PubMed (original) (raw)