TY - JOUR
TI - Peginterferon-alpha(2a) (40 kDa) for chronic hepatitis C
AU - Hadziyannis, SJ
AU - Papatheodoridis, GV
JO - Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
PY - 2003
VL - 4
TODO - 4
SP - 541-551
PB - TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD LONDON
SN - 1465-6566, 1744-7666
TODO - 10.1517/14656566.4.4.541
TODO - chronic hepatitis C; hepatitis C virus; interferon-alpha; pegylated
interferon; pegylated interferon-alpha(2a); polyethylene glycol;
ribavirin
TODO - Pegylated IFN-alpha(2a) (PEG-IFN-alpha(2a) [40 kDa]; Pegasys(R),
Hoffmann-La Roche) is a new subcutaneous formulation of IFN-alpha(2a),
produced by its attachment to a 40 kDa branched polyethylene glycol
moiety by a stable amide bond. PEG-IFN-alpha(2a)180 mug once-weekly has
enhanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties which translate
into significantly improved efficacy and similar safety and tolerability
compared with IFN-alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C even with
underlying cirrhosis. The combination of PEG-IFN-alpha(2a) (40 kDa) plus
ribavirin produces significantly better sustained virological responses
than the combination of IFN-alpha(2b) and ribavirin, while it is
accompanied by a similar or even lower incidence of adverse events and
better quality of life. PEG-IFN-alpha(2a) (40 kDa) is the first
pegylated IFN-alpha for which evidence-based recommendations can be made
on optimum therapy duration and ribavirin dose according to HCV
genotype. PEG-IFN-alpha(2a) (40 kDa) is expected to improve the efficacy
and tolerability of treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
ER -