Pegasys is a medicine used to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis B in adults and children from 3 years of age and chronic hepatitis C in adults and children from 5 years of age. Hepatitis B and C are diseases of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B and C viruses, respectively. Pegasys is usually used on its own for hepatitis B infection but is taken in combination with other medicines for hepatitis C. Pegasys is also used on its own to treat adults with polycythaemia vera (a disease in which the body produces too many red blood cells, which can cause the blood to thicken and reduce blood flow to the organs) and essential thrombocythemia (a disease in which there are too many platelets in the blood). Pegasys contains the active substance peginterferon alfa-2a.
Therapeutic Indication
### Therapeutic indication **Polycythaemia vera** Pegasys is indicated as monotherapy in adults for the treatment of polycythaemia vera. **Essential thrombocythaemia** Pegasys is indicated as monotherapy in adults for the treatment of essential thrombocythaemia.. **Chronic hepatitis B** Adult patients Pegasys is indicated for the treatment of hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive or HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in adult patients with compensated liver disease and evidence of viral replication, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and histologically verified liver inflammation and/or fibrosis (see sections 4.4 and 5.1). Paediatric patients 3 years of age and older Pegasys is indicated for the treatment of HBeAg-positive CHB in non-cirrhotic children and adolescents 3 years of age and older with evidence of viral replication and persistently elevated serum ALT levels. With respect to the decision to initiate treatment in paediatric patients see sections 4.2, 4.4 and 5.1. **Chronic hepatitis C** Adult patients Pegasys is indicated in combination with other medicinal products, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients with compensated liver disease (see sections 4.2, 4.4 and 5.1). For hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype specific activity, see sections 4.2 and 5.1. Paediatric patients 5 years of age and older Pegasys in combination with ribavirin is indicated for the treatment of CHC in treatment-naïve children and adolescents 5 years of age and older who are positive for serum HCV-RNA. When deciding to initiate treatment in childhood, it is important to consider growth inhibition induced by combination therapy. The reversibility of growth inhibition is uncertain. The decision to treat should be made on a case by case basis (see section 4.4).
Therapeutic Area (MeSH)
ATC Code
L03AB11
ATC Item
peginterferon alfa-2a
Pharmacotherapeutic Group
Immunostimulants
Active Substance (Summary)
INN / Common Names
| Substance | CAS | Monograph |
|---|---|---|
| peginterferon alfa-2a | N/A | 干扰素 |
EMA Name
Pegasys
Medicine Name
Pegasys
Aliases
N/ANo risk management plan link.
