Thymalfasin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a serious problem because of its worldwide distribution and possible adverse chronic sequelae, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic hepatitis B infection is a dynamic state of interactions between the virus, hepatocyte and host immune response. Interferon-α and direct antiviral agents, such as lamivudine (Epivir®, GlaxoSmithKline), are effective in the therapy of chronic HBV infection but the efficacy is far from satisfactory. Thymalfasin (thymosin α1; Tα1, Zadaxin™, SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) is a 28-amino acid polypeptide produced synthetically but originally isolated from thymosin fraction 5, a bovine thymus extract containing a number of immunologically active peptides. In vitro studies have shown that Tα1 can influence T-cell production and maturation, stimulate production of Th1 cytokines such as interferon-γ and interleukin-2, and activate natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Seven randomized controlled studies on Tα1 monotherapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B showed that 6 months treatment with Tα1 (1.6 mg twice-weekly) resulted in a significantly higher sustained response rate than untreated controls. The benefits of Tα1 therapy is usually not immediately apparent during therapy. There is a trend for complete virological response to increase or accumulate gradually after the end of thymosin therapy. The results of Tα1 and interferon combination therapy in two open-label trials were also promising. In terms of the mechanisms of action, a combination of Tα1 and nucleoside or nucleotide analogs is a logical approach in the control of chronic HBV infection and a randomized control study is ongoing.