TY - JOUR T1 - Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Studies of a Human Serum Albumin-Interferon-α Fusion Protein in Cynomolgus Monkeys JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 540 LP - 548 DO - 10.1124/jpet.102.037002 VL - 303 IS - 2 AU - Blaire L. Osborn AU - Henrik S. Olsen AU - Bernardetta Nardelli AU - James H. Murray AU - Joe X. H. Zhou AU - Andrew Garcia AU - Gordon Moody AU - Liubov S. Zaritskaya AU - Cynthia Sung Y1 - 2002/11/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/303/2/540.abstract N2 - Interferon-α (IFN-α) is indicated for the treatment of certain viral infections including hepatitis B and C, and cancers such as melanoma. The short circulating half-life of unmodified IFN-α makes frequent dosing (daily or three times weekly) over an extended period (6–12 months or more) necessary. To improve the pharmacokinetics of IFN-α and decrease dosing frequency, IFN-α was fused to human serum albumin producing a new protein, Albuferon. In vitro comparisons of Albuferon and IFN-α showed similar antiviral and antiproliferative activities, although Albuferon was less potent on a molar basis than IFN-α. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the fusion protein were enhanced in monkeys. After a single intravenous injection (30 μg/kg,) clearance was 0.9 ml/h/kg, and the terminal half-life was 68 h. After 30 μg/kg subcutaneous injection, apparent clearance (clearance divided by bioavailability) was 1.4 ml/h/kg, the terminal half-life was 93 h, and bioavailability was 64%. The rate of clearance of Albuferon was approximately 140-fold slower, and the half-life 18-fold longer, than for IFN-α given by the subcutaneous route in other monkey studies. Sera from Albuferon-treated monkeys demonstrated dose-related antiviral activity for ≥8 days based on an in vitro bioassay, whereas antiviral activity from IFN-α-treated animals was only slightly elevated relative to vehicle on day 0. Significant increases in 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA relative to IFN-α- or vehicle-treated animals were maintained for ≥10 days after subcutaneous dosing. The improved pharmacokinetics of Albuferon are accompanied by an improved pharmacodynamic response suggesting that Albuferon may offer the benefits of less frequent dosing and a potentially improved efficacy profile compared with IFN-α. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics ER -