Interferon alfa

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Identification

Summary

Interferon alfa is an immunomodulator used to treat hepatitis B and C as well as certain types of cancer including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma.

Generic Name

Interferon alfa

DrugBank Accession Number

DB05258

Background

Natural interferon alpha or Multiferon is obtained from the leukocyte fraction of human blood following induction with Sendai virus. Interferon alfa contains several naturally occurring IFN-α subtypes and is purified by affinity chromatography. Interferon alpha proteins are mainly involved in innate immune response against viral infection. They come in 13 subtypes that are called IFNA1, IFNA2, IFNA4, IFNA5, IFNA6, IFNA7, IFNA8, IFNA10, IFNA13, IFNA14, IFNA16, IFNA17, IFNA21. Multiferon consists of the 6 major subtypes are IFN-α1, IFN-α2, IFN-α8, IFN-α10, IFN-α14 and IFN-α21. Of these, IFN-α2 and IFN-α14 are glycosylated.

Type

Biotech

Groups

Investigational

Biologic Classification

Protein Based Therapies
Interferons

Protein Structure

Protein Chemical Formula: Not Available
Protein Average Weight: 20700.0 Da (range 19300-22100)

Sequences

>Inteferon alpha-1
CDLPETHSLDNRRTLMLLAQMSRISPSSCLMDRHDFGFPQEEFDGNQFQKAPAISVLHEL
IQQIFNLFTTKDSSAAWDEDLLDKFCTELYQQLNDLEACVMQEERVGETPLMNADSILAV
KKYFRRITLYLTEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSLSLSTNLQERLRRKE

>Inteferon alpha-2
CDLPQTHSLGSRRTLMLLAQMRKISLFSCLKDRHDFGFPQEEFGNQFQKAETIPVLHEMI
QQIFNLFSTKDSSAAWDETLLDKFYTELYQQLNDLEACVIQGVGVTETPLMKEDSILAVR
KYFQRITLYLKEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSFSLSTNLQESLRSKE

>Interferon alpha-8
CDLPQTHSLGNRRALILLAQMRRISPFSCLKDRHDFEFPQEEFDDKQFQKAQAISVLHEM
IQQTFNLFSTKDSSAALDETLLDEFYIELDQQLNDLESCVMQEVGVIESPLMYEDSILAV
RKYFQRITLYLTEKKYSSCAWEVVRAEIMRSFSLSINLQKRLKSKE

>Interferon alpha-10
CDLPQTHSLGNRRALILLGQMGRISPFSCLKDRHDFRIPQEEFDGNQFQKAQAISVLHEM
IQQTFNLFSTEDSSAAWEQSLLEKFSTELYQQLNDLEACVIQEVGVEETPLMNEDSILAV
RKYFQRITLYLIERKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSLSFSTNLQKRLRRKD

>Interferon alpha-14
CNLSQTHSLNNRRTLMLMAQMRRISPFSCLKDRHDFEFPQEEFDGNQFQKAQAISVLHEM
MQQTFNLFSTKNSSAAWDETLLEKFYIELFQQMNDLEACVIQEVGVEETPLMNEDSILAV
KKYFQRITLYLMEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSLSFSTNLQKRLRRKD

>Interferon alpha-21
CDLPQTHSLGNRRALILLAQMGRISPFSCLKDRHDFGFPQEEFDGNQFQKAQAISVLHEM
IQQTFNLFSTKDSSATWEQSLLEKFSTELNQQLNDLEACVIQEVGVEETPLMNVDSILAV
KKYFQRITLYLTEKKYSPCAWEVVRAEIMRSFSLSKIFQERLRRKE

Download FASTA Format

Synonyms

HuIFN-alpha-Le
IFN-α
Interferon alfa
Natural alpha interferon

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Pharmacology

Indication

Investigated for use/treatment in hepatitis (viral, C), leukemia (lymphoid), leukemia (myeloid), leukemia (unspecified), and melanoma.

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Associated Conditions

Indication Type	Indication	Approval Level	Dose Form
Treatment of	Follicular non-hodgkin's lymphoma	••••••••••••	•••••••••• ••••••••
Treatment of	Hepatitis c viral infection	••••••••••••	•••••••••• ••••••••
Treatment of	Malignancies, hematologic	••••••••••••	•••••••••• ••••••••
Treatment of	Melanoma, malignant	••••••••••••	•••••••••• ••••••••
Treatment of	Renal cell adenocarcinoma	••••••••••••	•••••••••• ••••••••

Contraindications & Blackbox Warnings

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Pharmacodynamics

Not Available

Mechanism of action

Natural alpha interferon offers multiple subtypes of interferon which may work together as a 'cocktail-in-one', while recombinant versions only exhibit a single subtype." Viragen offers MultiferonT at a cost which is competitive with recombinant interferon regimens.

Natural alpha interferon contains the multiple subtype composition that is characteristic of interferon produced by the human body. It is believed that this results in a broader spectrum of specific anti-viral and immunoregulatory activity with the subtypes acting synergistically to give a wide-ranging response.

Target	Actions	Organism
UInterferon alpha/beta receptor 1	Not Available	Humans

Absorption

Not Available

Volume of distribution

Not Available

Protein binding

Not Available

Metabolism

Proteolyzed by endogenous proteases.

Route of elimination

Reticulo-endothilial system, kidneys and liver.

Half-life

Not Available

Clearance

Not Available

Adverse Effects

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Toxicity

Not Available

Pathways

Not Available

Pharmacogenomic Effects/ADRs

Not Available

Interactions

Drug Interactions

This information should not be interpreted without the help of a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing an interaction, contact a healthcare provider immediately. The absence of an interaction does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.

Drug	Interaction
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Abatacept	The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Abatacept is combined with Interferon alfa.
Abciximab	The risk or severity of bleeding can be increased when Abciximab is combined with Interferon alfa.
Acenocoumarol	The metabolism of Acenocoumarol can be decreased when combined with Interferon alfa.
Acetaminophen	The metabolism of Acetaminophen can be decreased when combined with Interferon alfa.
Acetylsalicylic acid	The risk or severity of bleeding can be increased when Acetylsalicylic acid is combined with Interferon alfa.

Food Interactions

Not Available

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International/Other Brands: Multiferon

Chemical Identifiers

UNII: Not Available
CAS number: Not Available

References

General References

Yonezawa A, Morita R, Takaori-Kondo A, Kadowaki N, Kitawaki T, Hori T, Uchiyama T: Natural alpha interferon-producing cells respond to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with alpha interferon production and maturation into dendritic cells. J Virol. 2003 Mar;77(6):3777-84. [Article]

External Links

PubChem Substance: 347910052
Wikipedia: Interferon

Clinical Trials

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Phase	Status	Purpose	Conditions	Count	Start Date	Why Stopped	100+ additional columns
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Not Available	Active Not Recruiting	Not Available	Antiviral Treatment / Chronic Hepatitis B Infection / Fatty Liver Disease	1	somestatus	stop reason	just information to hide
Not Available	Completed	Not Available	Chronic Hepatitis B Infection	2	somestatus	stop reason	just information to hide
Not Available	Completed	Not Available	Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection	1	somestatus	stop reason	just information to hide
Not Available	Completed	Not Available	Healthy Volunteers (HV)	1	somestatus	stop reason	just information to hide
Not Available	Completed	Not Available	Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection	1	somestatus	stop reason	just information to hide

Pharmacoeconomics

Manufacturers

Not Available

Packagers

Not Available

Dosage Forms

Form	Route	Strength
Injection, solution
Injection, solution	Subcutaneous
Injection, solution	Parenteral

Prices

Not Available

Patents

Not Available

Properties

State: Liquid
Experimental Properties: Not Available

Targets

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Details1. Interferon alpha/beta receptor 1

Kind: Protein
Organism: Humans
Pharmacological action: Unknown

General Function: Together with IFNAR2, forms the heterodimeric receptor for type I interferons (including interferons alpha, beta, epsilon, omega and kappa) (PubMed:10049744, PubMed:14532120, PubMed:15337770, PubMed:2153461, PubMed:21854986, PubMed:24075985, PubMed:31270247, PubMed:33252644, PubMed:35442418, PubMed:7813427). Type I interferon binding activates the JAK-STAT signaling cascade, resulting in transcriptional activation or repression of interferon-regulated genes that encode the effectors of the interferon response (PubMed:10049744, PubMed:21854986, PubMed:7665574). Mechanistically, type I interferon-binding brings the IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits into close proximity with one another, driving their associated Janus kinases (JAKs) (TYK2 bound to IFNAR1 and JAK1 bound to IFNAR2) to cross-phosphorylate one another (PubMed:21854986, PubMed:32972995, PubMed:7665574, PubMed:7813427). The activated kinases phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues on the intracellular domains of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2, forming docking sites for the STAT transcription factors (PubMed:21854986, PubMed:32972995, PubMed:7526154, PubMed:7665574, PubMed:7813427). STAT proteins are then phosphorylated by the JAKs, promoting their translocation into the nucleus to regulate expression of interferon-regulated genes (PubMed:19561067, PubMed:21854986, PubMed:32972995, PubMed:7665574, PubMed:7813427, PubMed:9121453). Can also act independently of IFNAR2: form an active IFNB1 receptor by itself and activate a signaling cascade that does not involve activation of the JAK-STAT pathway (By similarity)
Specific Function: cytokine binding
Gene Name: IFNAR1
Uniprot ID: P17181
Uniprot Name: Interferon alpha/beta receptor 1
Molecular Weight: 63524.81 Da

Enzymes

Details1. Cytochrome P450 1A2

Kind: Protein
Organism: Humans
Pharmacological action: Unknown
Actions: Inhibitor

General Function: A cytochrome P450 monooxygenase involved in the metabolism of various endogenous substrates, including fatty acids, steroid hormones and vitamins (PubMed:10681376, PubMed:11555828, PubMed:12865317, PubMed:19965576, PubMed:9435160). Mechanistically, uses molecular oxygen inserting one oxygen atom into a substrate, and reducing the second into a water molecule, with two electrons provided by NADPH via cytochrome P450 reductase (NADPH--hemoprotein reductase) (PubMed:10681376, PubMed:11555828, PubMed:12865317, PubMed:19965576, PubMed:9435160). Catalyzes the hydroxylation of carbon-hydrogen bonds (PubMed:11555828, PubMed:12865317). Exhibits high catalytic activity for the formation of hydroxyestrogens from estrone (E1) and 17beta-estradiol (E2), namely 2-hydroxy E1 and E2 (PubMed:11555828, PubMed:12865317). Metabolizes cholesterol toward 25-hydroxycholesterol, a physiological regulator of cellular cholesterol homeostasis (PubMed:21576599). May act as a major enzyme for all-trans retinoic acid biosynthesis in the liver. Catalyzes two successive oxidative transformation of all-trans retinol to all-trans retinal and then to the active form all-trans retinoic acid (PubMed:10681376). Primarily catalyzes stereoselective epoxidation of the last double bond of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), displaying a strong preference for the (R,S) stereoisomer (PubMed:19965576). Catalyzes bisallylic hydroxylation and omega-1 hydroxylation of PUFA (PubMed:9435160). May also participate in eicosanoids metabolism by converting hydroperoxide species into oxo metabolites (lipoxygenase-like reaction, NADPH-independent) (PubMed:21068195). Plays a role in the oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics. Catalyzes the N-hydroxylation of heterocyclic amines and the O-deethylation of phenacetin (PubMed:14725854). Metabolizes caffeine via N3-demethylation (Probable)
Specific Function: aromatase activity
Gene Name: CYP1A2
Uniprot ID: P05177
Uniprot Name: Cytochrome P450 1A2
Molecular Weight: 58406.915 Da

References

Delaporte E, Renton KW: Cytochrome P4501A1 and cytochrome P4501A2 are downregulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels by conditions resulting in interferon-alpha/beta induction. Life Sci. 1997;60(10):787-96. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(97)00006-4. [Article]

Drug created at November 18, 2007 18:22 / Updated at October 17, 2024 17:19

Interferon alfa

Identification

Pharmacology

Interactions

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Categories

Chemical Identifiers

References

Clinical Trials

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Pharmacoeconomics

Properties

Targets

Enzymes

References