Intron A

The subcutaneous dose of interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) in patients who are HBsAg-positive is either 5 million units daily (better tolerated) or 10 million units three times weekly. The dose for HBsAg-negative patients is 5 to 6 million units three times weekly. The approved dose for pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) for chronic hepatitis B is 180 meg subcutaneously once weekly. Interferon doses may need to be adjusted in patients with renal impairment. 

Interferon alfa-2a (Roferon A), interferon alfa-2b (Intron-A), and interferon alfacon-1 (Infergen) are approved for chronic hepatitis C. However, they are not prescribed alone because only 12% to 16% of patients achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR). Adding ribavirin, a synthetic guanosine analogue that inhibits viral polymerase, increases the SVR rate to 35% to 45%. 

Intron A interferon a-2b Schering-Plough Hairy cell leukemia, genital warts, AIDS-related Kaposi s sarcoma, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, malignant melanoma, follicular lymphoma in conjunction with chemotherapy... 

Interferon alfa-2a Interferon alfa-2b 18 million IU 18 million IU 209.58 218.04 Roferon-A Intron-A ... 

Fig. 8.5 Demonstration of IFNa2b functionality by the ability of IF-Na2b to protect HeLa cells against the cytopathic effect of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC). Chloroplast derived IFNa2bwas as active as commercially produced Intron A.

Intron A (rIFN-a-2b) Schering Plough Cancer, genital warts, hepatitis... 

Table 8.9 Some of the indications (i.e. medical conditions) for which Intron A is approved. Note that the vast majority are either forms of cancer or viral infections...

Cathepsin G, a cationic, glycosylated protein of relative molecular mass -27 kDa, exists in four isoforms (25-29 kDa) that are identical in amino acid sequence but differ in levels of glycosylation. It is a component of azurophilic granules and present in human neutrophils at 1.5-3 jug/106 cells, but at lower levels in monocytes. cDNA has been cloned and sequenced (and the amino acid sequence predicted), and the gene has been localised to chromosome 14ql 1.2. The gene comprises five exons and four introns, a structure similar to that of the elastase gene. 

Interferon-a-2b Intron A Schering Plough Expired Expired... 

Intron A (Sobering Plough) Interferon-a (treatment of leukaemia) 1.4... 

Interferons a-2b (Intron-A), a-nl, and a-n3 (Alferon N) have both intrinsic antiviral effects and antiproliferative and immunomodulatory actions. These interferons are approved for intralesional therapy of refractory or recurrent condylomata (genital warts). Toxicities include flulike symptoms, nausea, depression of the white blood cell count, and mild diminution in hematocrit. 

Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) is a recombinant DNA product derived from the interferon alfa-2b gene of human white blood cells. Its mechanism of antitumor action involves binding to a plasma membrane receptor but is otherwise poorly understood. Its serum half-life is 2 to 3 hours after parenteral administration. 

Brand Name(s) Roferon-A (alfa-2a), Intron-A (alfa-2b)... 

Injection Powder for Reconstitution-. 3 million units, 5 million units, 6 million units, 10 million units, 18 million units, 25 million units, 50 million units (Intron-A). 

Intron A Biogen Shering-Plough Hairy cell leukemia, Kaposi s sarcoma, and Hepatitis C 650 718 598 524... 

IFN-o2b Intron-A (Schering) Melanoma, hepatitis C, CML, hairy-ceU leukemia, Kaposi s sarcoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma... 

E. Therapeutic response Efficacy of Infergen therapy was determined by measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations at the end of therapy (24 weeks) and following 24 weeks of observation after the end of treatment of adults with chronic HCV infection. Serum HCV RNA was also assessed using a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the end of 24 weeks of treatment, ALT normalization was observed in 39% of patients on Infergen and in 35% of patients on interferon alfa-2b Intron A). Only 17% of patients in each group... 

A. General description Intron A (interferon alfa-2b recombinant) is a recombi-nantly derived water-soluble protein with a molecular weight of 19.3 kDa. It is obtained from the bacterial fermentation of a strain of Escherichia coli bearing a genetically engineered plasmid containing an interferon alfa-2b gene from human leukocytes. 

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