Interferon Gamma 1b Brand Name– Actimmune
What is Interferon Gamma 1b
Interferon gamma 1b is a recombinant form of gamma interferon indicated for reducing the frequency and severity of infections associated with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and for delaying time to disease progression in patients with severe, malignant osteopetrosis.
Interferon gamma 1b is derived from genetically engineered Escherichia coli and is supplied as a highly purified solution with a specific activity of 20 million International Units/mg.
Interferon gamma 1b contains 140 amino acids and has a hydrogen and methionine at position 1 and a hydroxyl group at position 139.
Endogenous interferon gamma is a heterogeneous protein of 166 amino acids encoded on chromosome 12 and is chemically and pharmacologically distinct from interferon alpha or beta. Interferon gamma may be better described as an interleukin since it is produced by activated T lymphocytes, regulates the activity of immune cells, and functionally interacts with other interleukins as part of the lymphokine regulatory network.
Clinical trials with interferon gamma-1b in the treatment of CGD were terminated prematurely due to significant benefit over placebo.
In the treatment of osteopetrosis, interferon gamma-1b significantly prolonged the time to disease progression when compared to calcitriol (165 vs. 65 days, respectively).
Flu-like symptoms (i.e., fever, headache, chills, myalgia, and fatigue) are common with interferon gamma-1b treatment and may be minimized by bedtime administration and premedication with acetaminophen.
Indications
- chronic granulomatous disease
- osteopetrosis
For the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease to reduce the frequency and severity of serious infections
NOTE: Interferon gamma-1b has been designated an orphan drug by the FDA for this indication.
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- angina
- antibody formation
- arrhythmia exacerbation
- arthralgia
- asthenia
- ataxia
- atopic dermatitis
- atrial fibrillation
- AV block
- back pain
- bronchospasm
- chest pain (unspecified)
- chills
- colitis
- confusion
- depression
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dyspepsia
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- erythema
- fatigue
- fever
- GI bleeding
- hallucinations
- headache
- heart failure
- hepatomegaly
- hyperglycemia
- hypertriglyceridemia
- hypokalemia
- hyponatremia
- hypotension
- infection
- injection site reaction
- leukopenia
- lupus-like symptoms
- malaise
- myalgia
- myocardial infarction
- nausea
- neutropenia
- pancreatitis
- pneumonitis
- proteinuria
- pulmonary edema
- pulmonary embolism
- rash
- renal failure (unspecified)
- seizures
- sinus tachycardia
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- syncope
- tachypnea
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombosis
- urticaria
- vomiting
- weakness
- weight loss
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC with differential
- LFTs
- serum creatinine/BUN
- urinalysis
Contraindications
- angina
- bone marrow suppression
- breast-feeding
- cardiac arrhythmias
- cardiac disease
- driving or operating machinery
- E. coli protein hypersensitivity
- heart failure
- hepatic disease
- immunosuppression
- infants
- infertility
- latex hypersensitivity
- mannitol hypersensitivity
- myocardial infarction
- neonates
- pregnancy
- pulmonary fibrosis
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- reproductive risk
- seizure disorder
- vaccination
Interactions
- Abacavir
- Abacavir; Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC
- Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
- Amprenavir
- Antithymocyte Globulin
- Atazanavir
- Atazanavir; Cobicistat
- Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Vaccine, BCG
- Bictegravir; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Chloroquine
- Darunavir
- Darunavir; Cobicistat
- Darunavir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Delavirdine
- Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Dolutegravir; Rilpivirine
- Doravirine; Lamivudine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- 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
- Entecavir
- Fosamprenavir
- Indinavir
- Influenza Virus Vaccine
- Intranasal Influenza Vaccine
- Lamivudine, 3TC
- Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
- Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Live Vaccines
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Measles Virus; Mumps Virus; Rubella Virus; Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella Vaccines, MMR
- Nelfinavir
- Nevirapine
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Protease inhibitors
- Rilpivirine
- Ritonavir
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Rubella Virus Vaccine Live
- Saquinavir
- Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Nonreplicating
- Smallpox Vaccine, Vaccinia Vaccine
- Stavudine, d4T
- Telbivudine
- Theophylline, Aminophylline
- Tipranavir
- Typhoid Vaccine
- Varicella-Zoster Virus Vaccine, Live
- Vigabatrin
- Yellow Fever Vaccine, Live
- Zalcitabine, ddC
- Zidovudine, ZDV
