Identification
Name Peginterferon alfa-2b
Accession Number DB00022 (BIOD00048, BTD00048)
Type biotech
Description Peginterferon alfa-2b is a covalent conjugate of recombinant alfa-2b interferon with monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG). The average molecular weight of the PEG portion of the molecule is 12,000 daltons. The average molecular weight of the PEG-Intron molecule is approximately 31,000 daltons. The specific activity of peginterferon alfa-2b is approximately 0.7 x 108 IU/mg protein. Interferon alfa-2b is a water-soluble protein with a molecular weight of 19,271 daltons produced by recombinant DNA techniques. It is obtained from the bacterial fermentation of a strain of Escherichia coli bearing a genetically engineered plasmid containing an interferon gene from human leukocytes. The PEG strand protects the molecule in vivo from proteolytic breakdown, substantially increases its in vivo half-life, and reduces immunogenicity by wrapping around and physically hindering access to the protein portion of the molecule.
Structure
Categories (*)
Molecular Weight 31000.0000
Groups approved
Monoisotopic Weight Not Available
Pharmacology
Indication For the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients not previously treated with interferon alpha who have compensated liver disease and are at least 18 years of age.
Mechanism of action Interferon alpha binds to type I interferon receptors (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2c) which, upon dimerization, activate two Jak (Janus kinase) tyrosine kinases (Jak1 and Tyk2). These transphosphorylate themselves and phosphorylate the receptors. The phosphorylated INFAR receptors then bind to Stat1 and Stat2 (signal transducers and activators of transcription)which dimerize and activate multiple (~100) immunomodulatory and antiviral proteins. Interferon alpha binds less stably to type I interferon receptors than interferon beta.
Absorption Following a single subcutaneous dose of peginterferon alfa-2b, the mean absorption half-life (t½ ka) was 4.6 hours.
Protein binding Not Available
Biotransformation Not Available
Route of elimination Renal elimination accounts for 30% of the clearance.
Toxicity Not Available
Affected organisms
  • Humans and other mammals
Interactions
Drug Interactions
Drug Mechanism of interaction
Aminophylline Interferon increases the effect and toxicity of theophylline
Dyphylline Interferon increases the effect and toxicity of theophylline
Oxtriphylline Interferon increases the effect and toxicity of theophylline
Theophylline Interferon increases the effect and toxicity of theophylline
Food Interactions Not Available
Interferon-alpha/beta receptor alpha chain
Name Interferon-alpha/beta receptor alpha chain
Gene Name IFNAR1
Pharmacological action yes
Actions agonist
References
  • Overington JP, Al-Lazikani B, Hopkins AL: How many drug targets are there? Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Dec;5(12):993-6. - Pubmed
  • Imming P, Sinning C, Meyer A: Drugs, their targets and the nature and number of drug targets. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Oct;5(10):821-34. - Pubmed
  • Dhalluin C, Ross A, Huber W, Gerber P, Brugger D, Gsell B, Senn H: Structural, kinetic, and thermodynamic analysis of the binding of the 40 kDa PEG-interferon-alpha2a and its individual positional isomers to the extracellular domain of the receptor IFNAR2. Bioconjug Chem. 2005 May-Jun;16(3):518-27. - Pubmed
  • Ishii K, Shinohara M, Sawa M, Kogame M, Higami K, Sano M, Morita T, Sumino Y: Interferon alpha receptor 2 expression by peripheral blood monocytes in patients with a high viral load of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 showing substitution of amino Acid 70 in the core region. Intervirology. 2010;53(2):105-10. Epub 2009 Dec 3. - Pubmed
  • Yano H, Ogasawara S, Momosaki S, Akiba J, Kojiro S, Fukahori S, Ishizaki H, Kuratomi K, Basaki Y, Oie S, Kuwano M, Kojiro M: Growth inhibitory effects of pegylated IFN alpha-2b on human liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Liver Int. 2006 Oct;26(8):964-75. - Pubmed
  • Chen X, Ji ZL, Chen YZ: TTD: Therapeutic Target Database. Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Jan 1;30(1):412-5. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score 1.8511
Interferon-alpha/beta receptor beta chain
Name Interferon-alpha/beta receptor beta chain
Gene Name IFNAR2
Pharmacological action yes
Actions agonist
References
  • Overington JP, Al-Lazikani B, Hopkins AL: How many drug targets are there? Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Dec;5(12):993-6. - Pubmed
  • Imming P, Sinning C, Meyer A: Drugs, their targets and the nature and number of drug targets. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Oct;5(10):821-34. - Pubmed
  • Dhalluin C, Ross A, Huber W, Gerber P, Brugger D, Gsell B, Senn H: Structural, kinetic, and thermodynamic analysis of the binding of the 40 kDa PEG-interferon-alpha2a and its individual positional isomers to the extracellular domain of the receptor IFNAR2. Bioconjug Chem. 2005 May-Jun;16(3):518-27. - Pubmed
  • Ishii K, Shinohara M, Sawa M, Kogame M, Higami K, Sano M, Morita T, Sumino Y: Interferon alpha receptor 2 expression by peripheral blood monocytes in patients with a high viral load of hepatitis C virus genotype 1 showing substitution of amino Acid 70 in the core region. Intervirology. 2010;53(2):105-10. Epub 2009 Dec 3. - Pubmed
  • Yano H, Ogasawara S, Momosaki S, Akiba J, Kojiro S, Fukahori S, Ishizaki H, Kuratomi K, Basaki Y, Oie S, Kuwano M, Kojiro M: Growth inhibitory effects of pegylated IFN alpha-2b on human liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Liver Int. 2006 Oct;26(8):964-75. - Pubmed
  • Chen X, Ji ZL, Chen YZ: TTD: Therapeutic Target Database. Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Jan 1;30(1):412-5. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score 1.8511