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Pharmacokinetics of Recombinant Human Interferon-βser in Healthy Volunteers and Its Effect on Serum Neopterin

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The pharmacokinetics of and biologic response modification by recombinant human interferon-βser (rIFN-βser) were evaluated in 12 healthy male volunteers. Subjects received a single intravenous (iv) injection of 90 × 106 IU of rIFN-βser followed by a single or eight consecutive daily 90 × 106 IU subcutaneous (sc) doses. Blood samples collected after the iv, first sc, and last sc doses and prior to each sc dose were assayed for interferon antiviral activity and the inter-feron-inducible marker neopterin. Following iv administration, serum interferon concentrations generally declined biexponentially, with a mean serum clearance of 0.76 ± 0.28 L/hr-kg, a mean steady-state volume of distribution of 2.88 ± 1.81 L/kg, and a mean terminal half-life of 4.29 ± 2.29 hr as determined by noncompartmental analysis. Following sc administration, absorption of rIFN-βser was prolonged, with serum concentrations generally below 100 IU/mL. No accumulation of rIFN-βser in serum was noted after eight daily sc injections. In contrast, serum neopterin levels did not increase above baseline levels until 12 hr after iv dosing and 24 hr after sc dosing. The mean increase in serum neopterin at 24 hr post iv injection was significantly greater than that at 24 hr post sc dosing.

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Chiang, J., Gloff, C.A., Yoshizawa, C.N. et al. Pharmacokinetics of Recombinant Human Interferon-βser in Healthy Volunteers and Its Effect on Serum Neopterin. Pharm Res 10, 567–572 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018902120023

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