Abstract
The development of peginterferonα-2a(Pegasys®)
Interferon(IFN)α has an antiviral activity to Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B virus but the terminal half-life of IFN α is short and it requires three times injection per a week. Pegylation of the interferon to improve the terminal half-life has been done. Peginterferon α-2a (Pegasys), which has a branched 40 kD polyethylene glycol, showed longer half-life and sustained antiviral activity than non-pegylated interferon α and enables once weekly injection. It brings that the improvement of the outcome to chronic hepatitis C and hepatitis B.
