Roche’s Pegasys ‘may provide treatment success’

Roche’s Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) treatment may provide treatment success “or even a clinical cure”, according to a study.

Used as a therapy for patients suffering from hepatitis B, the product was found to reduce levels of a viral protein, called s-antigen.

Furthermore, the study revealed a decline throughout the treatment and in the long term.

Dr Patrick Marcellin, Professor of hepatology at the University of Paris and head of the Viral Hepatitis Research Unit in Hopital Beaujon in Clichy, France, said there needed to be a change in mindsets to raise expectations – allowing patients and physicians to be focused on achieving “the best possible outcome”.

He added: “Doctors can now therefore make a strong case to certain patients that Pegasys treatment may provide treatment success or even a clinical cure.”

Last month, Roche’s chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treatment MabThera received positive opinion from the European Union’s Committee on Human Medicinal Products.