Thymalfasin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. Issue 6 (December 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rustgi, Vinod K
• Is Part Of: Expert review of anti-infective therapy. Volume 3:Issue 6(2005)
• Page Start: 885
• Page End: 892
• Publication Date: 2005-12
• Subjects: hepatitis C virus -- immunomodulating agents -- thymalfasin -- thymosin-α1; Anti-infective agents -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.90461
• DOI: 10.1586/14787210.3.6.885
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-7210

Abstract

Approximately 50% of treatment-naive hepatitis C patients fail to achieve a sustained virologic response with standard peginterferon and ribavirin therapy. Patients who are infected with genotype 1 have high viral loads and are nonresponders to previous therapy, and are even more difficult to treat, underscoring the need for new therapeutic options. Thymalfasin (thymosin-α1 ), in combination with peginterferon-α2a, has demonstrated efficacy among difficult-to-treat patients with hepatitis C. The addition of ribavirin to thymalfasin and peginterferon-α2a has also exhibited promising results among patients who have genotype 1 hepatitis C, high viral loads and are nonresponders to previous therapy.