Consensus interferon: a novel interferon for the treatment of hepatitis C

• Published in: Journal of viral hepatitis Vol. 5; no. s1; pp. 13 - 18
• Main Author: Heathcote, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.09.1998
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; consensus interferon; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hepacivirus - drug effects; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepacivirus - immunology; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - therapy; Hepatitis C virus; Humans; Interferon Type I - adverse effects; Interferon Type I - pharmacology; Interferon Type I - therapeutic use; Interferon-alpha - adverse effects; Interferon-alpha - pharmacology; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Male; Recombinant Proteins; relapsers/non responders; Retreatment; RNA, Viral - blood
• ISSN: 1352-0504; 1365-2893
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.1998.0050s1013.x

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‐α‐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‐α‐2b or IFN‐α‐2a, possibly due to its greater binding affinity to interferon receptors. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, CIFN 9 μg, three times weekly for 24 weeks, proved to be equally efficacious and as safe as IFN‐α‐2b, but compared to 3 MU IFN‐α‐2b, CIFN 9 μg demonstrated improved responses in patients with high baseline viral titres.