ReliFeron®
belongs to the class of interferons (IFNs)
which are natural proteins
produced by the cells of the immune system
in response to foreign agents such as
viruses, bacteria, parasites and tumor
cells.
Interferons are produced in body primarily
from leukocyte, fibroblast and immune
cell and the important ones are
Interferons assist the immune response
by activating natural killer cells and
macrophages, promoting antigen presentation
to lymphocytes and thus inducing the resistance
of host cells against foreign agents.
Interferons also have direct anti-viral
effects.
Recombinant IFN-a is now approved worldwide
in over 40 countries for the treatment
of more than 14 malignancies and viral
diseases, including adjuvant therapy in
metastatic melanoma, condyloma acuminata,
Kaposi's sarcoma and most importantly
hepatitis B and C. Interferon-a has been
shown to be effective in suppressing viral
replication and in inducing remission
of liver disease caused by chronic hepatitis
B and hepatitis C virus infection.
ReliFeron®is a purified sterile
human recombinant interferon product classified
as an alpha interferon. It has 165 amino
acids, with a molecular weight of 19 kDa.
ReliFeron® is obtained by recombinant
technology using Escherichia coli with
an interferon alpha 2b gene from human
leukocytes. It is used in the form of
parenteral injection.
Each vial of ReliFeron®contains
3 or 5 million IU recombinant human interferon
alpha 2b in 0.5 mL of aqueous buffer.
Interferons assist the immune response
by activating natural killer cells and
macrophages, promoting antigen presentation
to lymphocytes and thus inducing the resistance
of host cells against foreign agents.
Interferons also have direct anti-viral
effects.
