Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon alfa‐n3: A multicenter, randomized, open‐label trial

We studied the antiviral effectiveness and safety of interferon alfa‐n3, a natural alpha interferon which contains multiple interferon species, in the treatment of previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C. Seventy‐seven patients were randomized to receive either 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 million units (MU) of interferon alfa‐n3 three times a week for 24 weeks and were then followed for an additional 24 weeks. At the end of therapy, 67% of patients in the 10 MU group normalized serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and 59% had no hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA detected by polymerase chain reaction. At the end of the follow‐up period, 44% of patients in the 10 MU group maintained normal ALT, and 24% had nondetectable HCV RNA. Lower doses were much less effective. Interferon alfa‐n3 was well tolerated and no patient developed neutralizing anti‐interferon antibodies during or after the treatment period. Interferon alfa‐n3 appears to be effective against hepatitis C virus and deserves further study in larger randomized controlled trials.