Perspective abstract


Nature Biotechnology 25, 1411 - 1419 (2007)
Published online: 7 December 2007 | doi:10.1038/nbt1364

Albinterferon alpha-2b: a genetic fusion protein for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

G Mani Subramanian1, Michele Fiscella1, Araba Lamousé-Smith1, Stefan Zeuzem2 & John G McHutchison3


Treatment regimens based on the use of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) remain the cornerstone of therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection, which affects nearly 170 million people worldwide. Treatment options include unmodified IFN-alpha given three times weekly or pegylated IFNs given once weekly. The albumin-fusion platform takes advantage of the long half-life of human albumin to provide a new treatment approach that allows the dosing frequency of IFN-alpha to be reduced in individuals with chronic hepatitis C. Albinterferon alpha-2b (alb-IFN), a recombinant polypeptide composed of IFN-alpha2b genetically fused to human albumin, has an extended half-life and early evidence indicates that it is efficacious and well tolerated. Pharmacodynamic modeling supports treatment with alb-IFN at 2- or 4-week intervals. Phase 3 registration trials are in progress. The albumin-fusion platform is currently being applied to other important bioactive peptides with short half-lives. These fusion proteins, which are at present in different phases of clinical development, might lead to improved therapies across a broad range of diseases.

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  1. Human Genome Sciences, Inc., 14200 Shady Grove Road, Rockville, Maryland 21042, USA.
  2. J.W. Goethe University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
  3. Duke Clinical Research Institute, PO Box 17969, Durham, North Carolina 27715, USA.

Correspondence to: G Mani Subramanian1 e-mail: Mani_Subramanian@hgsi.com



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