Peginterferon alfa-2a

Peginterferon alfa-2a
Clinical data
Trade namesPegasys, others
AHFS/Drugs.comProfessional Drug Facts
MedlinePlusa605029
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
Routes of
administration
Subcutaneous injection
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: ℞-only
  • EU: Rx-only[1]
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Identifiers
CAS Number
DrugBank
ChemSpider
  • none
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC860H1353N227O255S9
Molar mass19241.16 g·mol−1
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Pegylated interferon alfa-2a, sold under the brand name Pegasys among others, is medication used to treat hepatitis C and hepatitis B.[2] For hepatitis C it is typically used together with ribavirin and cure rates are between 24 and 92%.[2][3] For hepatitis B it may be used alone.[4] It is given by injection under the skin.[2]

Side effects are common.[5] They may include headache, feeling tired, depression, trouble sleeping, hair loss, nausea, pain at the site of injection, and fever.[2] Severe side effects may include psychosis, autoimmune disorders, blood clots, or infections.[2] Use with ribavirin is not recommended during pregnancy.[2] Pegylated interferon alfa-2a is in the alpha interferon family of medications.[2] It is pegylated to protect the molecule from breakdown.[5]

Pegylated interferon alfa-2a was approved for medical use in the United States in 2002.[2] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[6]

  1. ^ "Pegasys EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 20 June 2002. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Peginterferon Alfa-2a (Professional Patient Advice)". drugs.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Pegasys 135 mcg and 180 mcg solution for injection in pre-filled pen - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". medicines.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  4. ^ British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 639. ISBN 9780857111562.
  5. ^ a b "Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) - Treatment - Hepatitis C Online". hepatitisc.uw.edu. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  6. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.