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

Nature Biotechnology volume 25, pages 1411–1419 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Treatment regimens based on the use of interferon-α (IFN-α) remain the cornerstone of therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection, which affects nearly 170 million people worldwide. Treatment options include unmodified IFN-α 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-α to be reduced in individuals with chronic hepatitis C. Albinterferon α-2b (alb-IFN), a recombinant polypeptide composed of IFN-α2b 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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Figure 1: Key attributes of the albumin-fusion technology platform.
Figure 2: Biochemical characterization of alb-IFN.
Figure 3: In vitro antiviral activity.
Figure 6: Clinical development program overview.
Figure 4: Pharmacokinetics and viral kinetics of alb-IFN.
Figure 5: Clinical pharmacology in IFN non-responders and treatment-naive individuals with CHC.

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Acknowledgements

We thank BioScience Communications, New York, for editorial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Genome Sciences, Inc., 14200 Shady Grove Road, Rockville, 21042, Maryland, USA

    G Mani Subramanian, Michele Fiscella & Araba Lamousé-Smith

  2. J.W. Goethe University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590, Frankfurt, Germany

    Stefan Zeuzem

  3. Duke Clinical Research Institute, PO Box 17969, Durham, 27715, North Carolina, USA

    John G McHutchison

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Correspondence to G Mani Subramanian.

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G.M.S., A.L.-S. and M.F. are employees of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. S.Z. and J.G.M. are clinical investigators and consultants for Human Genome Sciences.

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Subramanian, G., Fiscella, M., Lamousé-Smith, A. et al. Albinterferon α-2b: a genetic fusion protein for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Nat Biotechnol 25, 1411–1419 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1364

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