New IFN may allow for injections every 2 or more weeks

[NashPred]

PharmaEssentia announces milestone in development of new third-generation interferon hepatitis B and C drug candidate
Release issued 18th June 2008
18 June, 2008, TAIPEI, Taiwan – Drug development company PharmaEssentia Corp. today announced that new PK/PD data on P1101, its third-generation PEG-interferon-alpha drug candidate for hepatitis B and C, showed the drug is particularly long-lasting compared to the two other pegylated-interferon drugs currently on the market. This indicates that PharmaEssentia's drug may only need to be injected once every two or more weeks by the patient, compared to the usual once-a-week administration.

Reducing dosage frequency is considered desirable for minimizing side effects and increasing the efficacy; and is more convenient for the patient as such biopharmaceutical drugs must usually be administered by injection.
Additionally, the modified structure of PharmaEssentia's PEG-INF-alpha makes for a purer drug, leading to a simpler manufacturing process and better quality control over the end product, particularly when produced at higher doses. P1101 has only a predominant single positional isomer connecting the PEG molecule on the protein, compared with 8 to 14 isomers found in the two other pegylated-interferon drugs, respectively.

Less frequent dosage should also mean a lower end cost and better compliance for the patient.
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You can read the full article by following the link currently on the front page of    HepB.org

[meki]

If they had a magic cure drug that ONE in One thousand would die upon injection --- and you wouldn't have to take anything else EVER ---- and the HCV would go away -- and stop killing your body...

I'd have to seriously consider it.

Because - you can have an anapyhalactic reaction to ANYTHING --- and just one dose... Woooo --- dang wouldn't that be nice..

[NashPred]

They say it will have less sx but I'm not sure. Still in trials.

I would think that people had the same concerns when PEG first came out. Before PEG, I think people had to take 3 shots a week of IFN and were probably concerned about a shot that would last all week long.

I think it would be a lot easier on people with a fear of needles.

I know that my sx are at their worst the couple of days following a shot and then things even out until time to take another shot. IF this new IFN allows me to cut my days of having bad sx in half, then I'm all for it. Guess we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out. Hopefully I'll SVR and never have a chance to try it.

[redrodeo]

     I understand that it would increase compliance. But with a drug like that, what would they do if and when something went south. Cuse you know something is going to happen to someone. I wouldn't do it. Tx was so hard as it was.
Red