Albinterferon

Albinterferon
Identifiers
CAS Number 472960-22-8
ATC code L03AB12 (albinterferon alfa-2b)
ChemSpider none
Chemical data
Formula C3796H5937N1015O1143S50
Molar mass 85.7 kDa

Albinterferon (alb-IFN, trade name Albuferon) is a recombinant fusion protein drug consisting of interferon alpha (IFN-α) linked to human albumin.[1][2] Conjugation to human albumin prolongs the half-life of the IFN-α to about 6 days, allowing to dose it every two to four weeks.[3]

The drug was under investigation as an alternative to pegylated IFN-α-2a for the treatment of hepatitis C. In response to an FDA ruling, Novartis and Human Genome Sciences announced on October 5, 2010 that they will cease development of the drug.[4]

A French expert in hepatitis treatment, Dr. Yves Benhamou, member of the steering committee for a clinical trial of the drug was detained on criminal fraud charges by the F.B.I. agents on 11-01-2010 as he attended a conference in Boston because he allegedly tipped off a hedge fund manager about setbacks in the clinical trials (two participants in the trial had developed lung disease and one of them died); he had a consulting relationship with a manager of the hedge fund. The manager sold his entire stake in Human Genome Sciences before it announced the setbacks in Jan. 2008 and avoided $30 million in losses.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Osborn BL, Olsen HS, Nardelli B, et al. (November 2002). "Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of a human serum albumin-interferon-alpha fusion protein in cynomolgus monkeys". J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 303 (2): 540–8. doi:10.1124/jpet.102.037002. PMID 12388634.
  2. ↑ Statement on a nonproprietary name adopted by the USAN Council
  3. ↑ Zeuzem S, Yoshida EM, Benhamou Y, et al. (August 2008). "Albinterferon alfa-2b dosed every two or four weeks in interferon-naïve patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C". Hepatology 48 (2): 407–17. doi:10.1002/hep.22403. PMID 18666223.
  4. ↑ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h_xwTjacvhKutLYGE0w6FEuuaEQwD9ILM7MG1?docId=D9ILM7MG1
  5. ↑ Kaplan, Thomas (November 2, 2010). "French Doctor Arrested on Insider Trading Charges". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ http://newyork.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/nyfo110210a.htm


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