Peginterferon Alfa-2b

**Semantic type:** Chemical Viewed Functionally

**Definition:** A covalent conjugate of recombinant interferon alpha, subtype 2b, and polyethylene glycol (PEG), used as an antiviral and antineoplastic agent. The biological activity of this agent is derived from its interferon alpha-2b protein moiety. Interferons alfa bind to specific cell-surface receptors, leading to the transcription and translation of genes whose protein products mediate antiviral, antiproliferative, anticancer, and immune-modulating effects. The PEG moiety lowers the clearance of interferon alpha-2b, thereby extending the duration of its therapeutic effects, but may also reduce the interferon-mediated stimulation of an immune response. (NCI04)

**Synonyms:** - PEG Interferon Alpha-2b - PEG Intron - PEG-IFN Alfa-2b - PEG-IFN-a 2b - PEG-Interferon Alfa-2b - PEG-Intron - PEG-Intron - PEG-interferon alfa-2b - PEGINTERFERON ALFA-2B - PegIntron - Peginterferon alfa-2b - Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2b - Pegylated Interferon alfa-2b - Polyethylene Glycol IFN-A2b - Polyethylene Glycol Interferon Alfa-2b - SCH 54031 - SCH-54031 - SCH54031 - Sylatron