Peginterferon-α2a in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection occurs worldwide and affects over 2.7 million adults in North America. Current standard of care is the combination of pegylated (peg) interferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks in hepatitis C virus genotypes 2 or 3 and at least 48 weeks in chronic hepatitis C virus infection genotypes 1 or 4. Peginterferon-α2a is a 40-kDa linear pegylated molecule that alters the pharmacokinetic properties of unmodified interferon-α. In clinical trials evaluating the combination of peginterferon-α2a and ribavirin in chronic chronic hepatitis C virus infection, sustained virologic response rates have been achieved in 46–52% of patients with genotype 1 and 76–80% of patients with genotypes 2 or 3. Studies on the role of longer treatment duration and retreatment in prior nonresponders are in progress. The main toxicities of peginterferon-α2a are flu-like symptoms and neuropsychiatric disorders, especially depression and cytopenias, and are found in similar rates to those observed with regular inteferon. Future areas of study include the role of peginterferon-α2a in combination with the newer oral chronic hepatitis C virus infection active agents in development.