Interferon Alfacon 1 Brand Name– Infergen
What is Interferon Alfacon 1
Interferon alfacon-1 is a recombinant alpha interferon (IFN). The alpha IFNs include more than 25 subtypes.
Alpha and beta IFNs are structurally and functionally related. The 166 amino acid sequence of IFN alfacon-1, also called ‘consensus IFN,’ was derived by scanning several natural IFN-alpha subtypes and assigning the most frequently observed amino acid to each corresponding position.
Consensus interferon is produced by fermentation of genetically engineered E. coli that contains the synthetically constructed DNA sequence that encodes for IFN alfacon-1. Interferon alfacon-1 differs from IFN alfa-2b by 20 amino acids (88% homology).
Interferon alfacon 1 has approximately 30% sequence identity with interferon-beta. Use of interferon alfacon 1 in patients with chronic hepatitis C has resulted in initial response rates of 39% (based on normalization of ALT) and sustained response rates of roughly 17%.
Sustained responses may be obtained with use of a higher interferon alfacon-1 dose among patients who either did not respond to a dose of 9 mcg three times per week or had a relapse after drug discontinuation.
Specifically, receipt of 15 mcg three times per week for 24 weeks led to 13% of patients with ALT normalization and 9% with negative HCV RNA, which were determined 24 weeks after drug cessation.
A greater sustained response rate was obtained with 48 weeks of interferon alfacon-1 as compared with a 24 week treatment duration.
Drug receipt for 48 weeks led to ALT normalization in 19% of patients and negative HCV RNA in 22% of patients 24 weeks after drug cessation.
Although interferon alfacon-1 is approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, use of peginterferon alfa with ribavirin is recommended in consensus guidelines for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C; the treatment goal is attainment of a sustained virologic response, which is defined as the achievement of undetectable HCV RNA at the end of treatment and 24 weeks later.
The FDA approved interferon alfacon-1 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in October 1997.
In December 1999, the FDA approved an expanded indication for the subsequent treatment of hepatitis C patients for 48 weeks, as opposed to 6 months.
In July 2010, the FDA approved the use of interferon alfacon 1 for use with ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C.
Indications
- adenovirus
- encephalomyocarditis virus
- hepatitis B virus
- hepatitis C infection
- hepatitis C virus
- hepatitis D virus
- herpes simplex virus type 1
- herpes simplex virus type 2
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)
- poliovirus
- rhinovirus
- varicella-zoster virus
- variola virus (smallpox)
- vesicular stomatitis virus
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- agitation
- alopecia
- amnesia
- anaphylactoid reactions
- anemia
- angina
- angioedema
- anorexia
- anxiety
- aplastic anemia
- arthralgia
- ascites
- asthenia
- ataxia
- back pain
- bleeding
- bone pain
- bronchiolitis obliterans
- bronchospasm
- cardiomyopathy
- chest pain (unspecified)
- colitis
- constipation
- cough
- dehydration
- depression
- diabetes mellitus
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dyspepsia
- dyspnea
- ecchymosis
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- emotional lability
- fatigue
- fever
- gastritis
- hallucinations
- headache
- hearing loss
- hepatic encephalopathy
- hot flashes
- hyperbilirubinemia
- hyperglycemia
- hyperhidrosis
- hyperthyroidism
- hypertriglyceridemia
- hyperuricemia
- hypoesthesia
- hypotension
- hypothyroidism
- impaired cognition
- infection
- injection site reaction
- insomnia
- interstitial nephritis
- irritability
- jaundice
- leukopenia
- lymphocytosis
- macular edema
- malaise
- myalgia
- myocardial infarction
- nausea
- neutropenia
- non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- pancreatitis
- papilledema
- paresthesias
- pharyngitis
- pneumonitis
- pruritus
- psoriasis
- psychosis
- pulmonary hypertension
- rash
- renal failure (unspecified)
- retinal detachment
- retinal hemorrhage
- retinal thrombosis
- retinopathy
- rhabdomyolysis
- seizures
- sinus tachycardia
- sinusitis
- stroke
- suicidal ideation
- thrombocytopenia
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- tremor
- urticaria
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- weight loss
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC
- ECG
- hemoglobin/hematocrit
- LFTs
- platelet count
- serum albumin
- serum creatinine/BUN
- thyroid function tests (TFTs)
Contraindications
- alcoholism
- anemia
- angina
- ascites
- autoimmune disease
- bipolar disorder
- bone marrow suppression
- breast-feeding
- cardiac disease
- cerebrovascular disease
- children
- coagulopathy
- coronary artery disease
- depression
- diabetes mellitus
- diabetic retinopathy
- E. coli protein hypersensitivity
- geriatric
- hepatic disease
- hepatitis
- hyperlipidemia
- hyperthyroidism
- hypoalbuminemia
- hypotension
- hypothyroidism
- immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- immunosuppression
- infants
- infection
- jaundice
- male-mediated teratogenicity
- mania
- myocardial infarction
- neonates
- neutropenia
- non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- pneumonitis
- pregnancy
- psoriasis
- psychiatric event
- psychosis
- pulmonary disease
- pulmonary hypertension
- radiation therapy
- renal disease
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- rheumatoid arthritis
- sarcoidosis
- stroke
- substance abuse
- suicidal ideation
- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- thrombocytopenia
- thyroid disease
- vaccination
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
