| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Pegasys, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Professional Drug Facts |
| MedlinePlus | a605029 |
| License data | |
| Pregnancy category |
|
| Routes of administration | Subcutaneous |
| Drug class | Alpha interferon[1] |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
|
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C860H1353N227O255S9 |
| Molar mass | 19241 g/mol (unpegylated) 40000 g/mol (pegylated) g·mol−1 |
  (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.[1] For hepatitis C it is typically used together with ribavirin and cure rates are between 24 and 92%.[1][3] For hepatitis B it may be used alone.[4] It is given by injection under the skin.[1]
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.[1] Severe side effects may include psychosis, autoimmune disorders, blood clots, or infections.[1] Use with ribavirin is not recommended during pregnancy.[1] Pegylated interferon alfa-2a is in the alpha interferon family of medications.[1] 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.[1] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[6] The wholesale cost in the developing world is between 500.00 and US$4,800.00 for 12 weeks.[7] In the United States this costs about US$9,250.00,[5] while in the United Kingdom 12 weeks costs the NHS about 1492.80 pounds.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Peginterferon Alfa-2a (Professional Patient Advice) - Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "WHOCC - ATC/DDD Index". www.whocc.no. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ "Pegasys 135 mcg and 180 mcg solution for injection in pre-filled pen - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ a b British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 639. ISBN 9780857111562.
- ^ a b c "Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) - Treatment - Hepatitis C Online". www.hepatitisc.uw.edu. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Inclusion of the injectable formulation of peginterferon alfa-2a and -2b is proposed for the treatment of hepatitis C among adults" (PDF). who.int. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.