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Interferon Gamma (Monograph)

Brand name: Actimmune
Drug class: Immunomodulatory Agents
- Cytokines
- Biologic Response Modifiers
VA class: IM700
Chemical name: N2-l-Methionyl-1-139-interferonγ (human lymphocyte protein moiety reduced)
Molecular formula: C734H1166N204O216S5
CAS number: 98059-61-1

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Jul 22, 2024. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Biologic response modifier; biosynthetic (recombinant DNA origin) form of endogenous human interferon gamma.

Uses for Interferon Gamma

Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Reduction of the frequency and severity of serious infections in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use).

Osteopetrosis

Treatment to delay the time to disease progression in patients with severe, malignant osteopetrosis (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use).

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Interferon gamma-1b was investigated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [off-label] (IPF) with mild-to-moderate lung function impairment in the INSPIRE study; the study was terminated early when interim data analysis indicated lack of benefit in patients receiving the drug. Interim analysis also indicated that 14.5% of patients receiving interferon gamma 1-b died compared with 12.7% of those receiving placebo.

Interferon gamma-1b is not approved for use in patients with IPF. FDA suggests that health-care professionals should discuss the results of this trial with their patients receiving the drug for IPF and carefully consider whether they should continue to receive treatment with interferon gamma-1b.

Interferon Gamma Dosage and Administration

General

Administration

Sub-Q Administration

Administer by sub-Q injection 3 times weekly (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday).

Optimum sites for sub-Q injection include right and left deltoid and anterior thigh.

To minimize risk of flu-like syndrome, administer at bedtime and/or give acetaminophen to prevent or partially alleviate fever and headache.

Vials contain no preservative; discard any residual solution remaining in the vial after administration of the single dose.

Dosage

Each mg of interferon gamma-1b is approximately equivalent to 20 million international units (equivalent to the amount that formerly was expressed as 30 million units).

Pediatric Patients

Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Sub-Q

50 mcg/m2 (1 million international units per m2) 3 times weekly for patients with body surface area (BSA) >0.5 m2 and 1.5 mcg/kg 3 times weekly for those with body surface area ≤0.5 m2.

If a severe adverse reaction (e.g., flu-like symptoms) occurs, reduce dosage by 50% or discontinue drug until adverse reaction abates.

Osteopetrosis
Sub-Q

50 mcg/m2 (1 million international units per m2) 3 times weekly for patients with body surface area >0.5 m2 and 1.5 mcg/kg 3 times weekly for those with body surface area ≤0.5 m2.

If a severe adverse reaction (e.g., flu-like symptoms) occurs, reduce dosage by 50% or discontinue drug until adverse reaction abates.

Adults

Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Sub-Q

50 mcg/m2 (1 million international units per m2) 3 times weekly.

If a severe adverse reaction (e.g., flu-like symptoms) occurs, reduce dosage by 50% or discontinue drug until adverse reaction abates.

Osteopetrosis
Sub-Q

50 mcg/m2 (1 million international units per m2) 3 times weekly.

If a severe adverse reaction (e.g., flu-like symptoms) occurs, reduce dosage by 50% or discontinue drug until adverse reaction abates.

Prescribing Limits

Pediatric Patients

Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Sub-Q

Safety and efficacy of dosages >50 mcg/m2 3 times weekly not established.

Osteopetrosis
Sub-Q

Safety and efficacy of dosages >50 mcg/m2 3 times weekly not established.

Adults

Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Sub-Q

Safety and efficacy of dosages >50 mcg/m2 3 times weekly not established.

Osteopetrosis
Sub-Q

Safety and efficacy of dosages >50 mcg/m2 3 times weekly not established.

Cautions for Interferon Gamma

Contraindications

Warnings/Precautions

Warnings

Cardiac Effects

Acute and transient flu-like syndrome or constitutional symptoms (e.g., chills, fever) that are associated with daily dosages ≥250 mcg/m2 (>10 times the weekly recommended dosage) may exacerbate preexisting cardiac conditions.

Use with caution in patients with preexisting cardiac disease (e.g., arrhythmia, CHF, symptoms of ischemia).

CNS Effects

Possible seizures, decreased mental status, dizziness, and gait disturbance, particularly at daily dosages >250 mcg/m2 (>10 times the weekly recommended dosage).

Use with caution in patients with known seizure disorders or compromised CNS function.

Hematologic Effects

Possibly severe, reversible, dose-limiting neutropenia and thrombocytopenia reported rarely.

Use with caution in patients with myelosuppression and in those receiving drugs that may be myelosuppressive.

Monitor blood cell and differential counts and platelet counts prior to initiating interferon gamma-1b and at 3-month intervals during therapy.

Renal Effects

Proteinuria reported rarely.

Perform urinalysis and monitor appropriate blood chemistry tests prior to initiating interferon gamma-1b and at 3-month intervals during therapy.

Hepatic Effects

Possibly substantial (up to 25-fold) elevations of AST and/or ALT reported; children <1 year of age most at risk (see Pediatric Use under Cautions). Reversible with dosage reduction or interruption of therapy.

Perform liver function tests prior to initiating interferon gamma-1b and at monthly (for children <1 year of age) or 3-month intervals during therapy. If severe hepatic enzyme elevations occur, modify dosages. (See Dosage under Dosage and Administration.)

Sensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity Reactions

If acute, serious hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue immediately and initiate appropriate therapy.

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category C.

Lactation

Not known whether interferon gamma-1b is distributed into milk; discontinue nursing or the drug.

Pediatric Use

Increased risk of elevations of AST and/or ALT in children <1 year of age. May occur as early as 7 days after starting treatment. (See Hepatic Effects under Cautions.)

Possibly reversible alkaline phosphatase elevation and hypokalemia.

Common Adverse Effects

Flu-like syndrome (e.g., headache, fever, chills, myalgia, fatigue), erythema or tenderness at injection site, injection site hemorrhage, nausea, vomiting, rash.

Drug Interactions

No formal drug interaction studies to date.

Specific Drugs

Drug

Interaction

Comments

Myelosuppressive agents

Possible additive myelosuppressive effects

Use with caution

Interferon Gamma Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Following sub-Q injection, >89% of dose is slowly absorbed; peak plasma concentrations attained 7 hours after dose.

Elimination

Half-life

5.9 hours following a single sub-Q dose.

Stability

Storage

Parenteral

Injection

2–8°C; do not freeze. Unentered vials may be exposed to room temperature for up to 12 hours prior to use; discard vials not returned to refrigerator or used within 12 hours.

Avoid shaking or excessively or vigorously agitating vials.

Actions

Advice to Patients

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

Interferon Gamma-1b (Recombinant DNA Origin)

Routes

Dosage Forms

Strengths

Brand Names

Manufacturer

Parenteral

Injection, for subcutaneous use

100 mcg/0.5 mL (2 million international units)

Actimmune

InterMune

AHFS DI Essentials™. © Copyright 2024, Selected Revisions August 1, 2010. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

† Off-label: Use is not currently included in the labeling approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

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