AEGiS-GMHC: IN BRIEF: Oral Alpha Interferon At Mt. Sinai

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

IN BRIEF: Oral Alpha Interferon At Mt. Sinai

Gay Men's Health Crisis Treatment Issues, Vol. 5, No. 5 - June 20, 1991
David Barr

Mt. Sinai continues to recruit patients for its two studies with oral alpha interferon (a drug similar to Kemron). The first study is for patients with ARC, who have T4 cell counts between 100-350. The study has places for ten more patients. For the first ten weeks, patients will be randomized to drug or placebo. For the following 48 weeks, every participant will receive 150 international units (IU) of oral alpha interferon daily, an extremely low dose. The second study is for people with AIDS and T4 cell counts under 300. This study is a dose-ranging double- blinded study (no one knows who is taking what dose of drug). Patients will receive either 75, 150 or 500 IU of drug a day. The study will last 36 weeks.

Early word from both studies is that no patient has experienced any toxicity from oral alpha interferon. Side effects which were observed did not seem to be directly related to the drug. Because these are early results, there is no conclusive information about the drug's efficacy or the best dose. On a positive note, many patients report subjective improvement of symptoms, more energy and increased appetite. No word yet as to the laboratory results, but there have been no major changes in T4 cell counts. To enroll in either of the Mt. Sinai Medical Center trials, contact Dr. Joseph Hassett at (212) 241-6331.

The PWA Health Group, which has been selling a version of oral alpha interferon for over a year, reports that sales of the drug are down.

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