Albinterferon Alfa-2b was not inferior to pegylated interferon-α in a randomized trial of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3.

Background & Aims: A phase 3 active-controlled study was conducted to assess the efficacy/safety of albinterferon alfa-2b (albIFN), a novel, long-acting, genetic fusion polypeptide of recombinant human albumin and interferon alfa-2b, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2/3.

Methods: In all, 933 patients were randomized to open-label subcutaneous treatment with pegylated interferon-alfa-2a (Peg-IFNalfa-2a) 180 μg/wk, or albIFN 900 or 1200 μg every 2 weeks for 24 weeks, each administered with oral ribavirin 800 mg/day. The primary end point of the study was sustained virologic response (SVR) (HCV-RNA level, <15 IU/mL at week 48).