Efficacy and safety of aerosol inhalation of recombinant human interferon [alpha]1b injection for noninfluenza viral pneumonia, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background To investigate the efficacy and safety of aerosol inhalation of recombinant human interferon [alpha]1b (IFN[alpha]1b) injection for noninfluenza viral pneumonia. Methods One hundred sixty-four patients with noninfluenza viral pneumonia were divided into IFN[alpha]1b and control groups. The IFN[alpha]1b group received routine treatment + aerosol inhalation of recombinant human IFN[alpha]1b injection (50 [mu]g x 2 injections, bid). The control group received routine treatment + IFN analog (two injections, bid). Overall response rate (ORR) of five kinds clinical symptoms. Further outcomes were daily average score and the response rate of each of the symptoms above. Results A total of 163 patients were included in the full analysis set (FAS) and 151 patients were included in the per-protocol set (PPS). After 7 days of treatment, ORR of clinical symptoms was higher in IFN[alpha]1b group than that in control group for both the FAS and PPS. Moreover, after 7 days of treatment, the daily score of three efficacy indexes including expectoration, respiratory rate, and pulmonary rales were improved. The ORRs for expectoration and pulmonary rales were higher in the IFN[alpha]1b group than in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of the ORRs for coughing, chest pain and respiratory rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse events was 6.5% (n = 5) in IFN[alpha]1b group and 3.5% (n = 3) in control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Aerosol inhalation of recombinant human IFN[alpha]1b is safe and it can improve the clinical symptoms of noninfluenza viral pneumonia. Keywords: Noninfluenza viral pneumonia, Recombinant human interferon [alpha]1b, Aerosol inhalation, Clinical trial