Interferon Alfa n3 Brand Name– Alferon N
What is Interferon Alfa n3
Interferon alfa n3 is a formulation of purified, natural, human interferon (IFN) alpha proteins derived from human leukocytes.
Alpha and beta IFNs are structurally and functionally related.
The alpha IFNs include more than 25 subtypes; interferon alfa-3n consists of IFN alpha proteins comprising approximately 166 amino acids in molecular weights from 16—27 Kd. The specific activity of interferon alfa-n3 is >= 200 million International Units/mg protein.
Interferon alfa-n3 is manufactured from pooled units of human leukocytes that have been induced by incomplete infection with a murine virus (Sendai virus) to produce interferon alfa-n3.
The manufacturing process includes immunoaffinity chromotography with a murine antibody and gel filtration chromotography. In addition, the manufacturing process contains steps that have been shown to inactivate viruses, and there has been no evidence of infection transmission during clinical trials.
Interferon alfa n3 is used in the treatment of condylomata acuminata (venereal or genital warts).
Overall, 80% of patients treated with interferon alfa-n3 had a complete or partial resolution of genital warts compared to only 44% of those treated with placebo.
Interferon alfa-n3 has also been used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia and hepatitis C in patients who have developed antibodies to or are refractory to other interferon alfa products.
The FDA approved interferon alfa-n3 for the treatment of venereal warts in 1990.
Indications
- adenovirus
- condylomata acuminata
- encephalomyocarditis virus
- hepatitis B virus
- hepatitis C virus
- hepatitis D virus
- herpes simplex virus type 1
- herpes simplex virus type 2
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
- human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)
- poliovirus
- rhinovirus
- varicella-zoster virus
- variola virus (smallpox)
- vesicular stomatitis virus
Side Effects
- anorexia
- arthralgia
- back pain
- bleeding
- blurred vision
- chest pain (unspecified)
- chills
- confusion
- constipation
- cough
- depression
- diaphoresis
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dysgeusia
- dyspepsia
- dysuria
- edema
- epistaxis
- fatigue
- fever
- flushing
- headache
- heat intolerance
- hot flashes
- hyperesthesia
- hypersalivation
- hypotension
- injection site reaction
- insomnia
- leukopenia
- maculopapular rash
- malaise
- muscle cramps
- myalgia
- nausea
- non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- ocular pain
- paresthesias
- pharyngitis
- photosensitivity
- polydipsia
- pruritus
- pyrosis (heartburn)
- stomatitis
- tinnitus
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- wheezing
- xerostomia
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC
- LFTs
Contraindications
- albumin hypersensitivity
- angina
- bone marrow suppression
- breast-feeding
- cardiac arrhythmias
- cardiac disease
- children
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- coronary artery disease
- diabetes mellitus
- egg hypersensitivity
- geriatric
- Graves’ disease
- heart failure
- hemophilia
- hyperlipidemia
- hypertension
- hyperthyroidism
- hypothyroidism
- infants
- infection
- murine protein hypersensitivity
- neomycin hypersensitivity
- neonates
- non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- pregnancy
- psoriasis
- pulmonary disease
- seizure disorder
- thyroid disease
- vaccination
- viral infection
Interactions
- Abacavir
- Abacavir; Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC
- Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
- Aldesleukin, IL-2
- Alemtuzumab
- Alteplase
- Altretamine
- Amprenavir
- Anticoagulants
- Antithrombin III
- Antithymocyte Globulin
- Antitumor antibiotics
- Apixaban
- Argatroban
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Atazanavir
- Atazanavir; Cobicistat
- Azathioprine
- Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccine, BCG
- Basiliximab
- Betrixaban
- Bictegravir; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Bivalirudin
- Chloroquine
- Clozapine
- Dabigatran
- Dalteparin
- Danaparoid
- Darunavir
- Darunavir; Cobicistat
- Darunavir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Delavirdine
- Desirudin
- Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Dolutegravir; Rilpivirine
- Doravirine; Lamivudine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- Edoxaban
- Efalizumab
- Efavirenz
- Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
- Efavirenz; Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Emtricitabine
- Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Emtricitabine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- Enoxaparin
- Entecavir
- Estramustine
- Ethanol
- Filgrastim, G-CSF
- Folate analogs
- Fondaparinux
- Fosamprenavir
- Heparin
- Hydroxyurea
- Ibritumomab Tiuxetan
- Imatinib
- Indinavir
- Influenza Virus Vaccine
- Intranasal Influenza Vaccine
- Lamivudine, 3TC
- Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
- Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Lepirudin
- Live Vaccines
- Lomustine, CCNU
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Measles Virus; Mumps Virus; Rubella Virus; Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella Vaccines, MMR
- Melphalan
- Methotrexate
- Methoxsalen
- Mitoxantrone
- Natural Antineoplastics
- Nelfinavir
- Nevirapine
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Pegfilgrastim
- Pemetrexed
- Pentosan
- Pexidartinib
- Pralatrexate
- Protease inhibitors
- Purine analogs
- Reteplase, r-PA
- Rilpivirine
- Riluzole
- Ritonavir
- Rivaroxaban
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Rubella Virus Vaccine Live
- Saquinavir
- Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Nonreplicating
- Smallpox Vaccine, Vaccinia Vaccine
- Stavudine, d4T
- Streptokinase
- Tbo-Filgrastim
- Telbivudine
- Tenecteplase
- Theophylline, Aminophylline
- Thrombolytic Agents
- Tinzaparin
- Tipranavir
- Tositumomab
- Tretinoin, ATRA
- Typhoid Vaccine
- Urokinase
- Varicella-Zoster Virus Vaccine, Live
- Vigabatrin
- Warfarin
- Yellow Fever Vaccine, Live
- Zalcitabine, ddC
- Zidovudine, ZDV