Interferon alfa 2b (Viraferon®/Intron A*®/Rebetol®) - Schering Plough

12 June 2006

The Scottish Medicines Consortium issues advice on interferon alfa 2b (Viraferon® and Intron A*®) in combination with ribavirin (Rebetol®), for use within NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has completed its assessment on the above product. The SMC advises NHS Boards and Area Drug and Therapeutic Committees (ADTCs) that interferon alfa 2b (Viraferon and Intron A) in combination with ribavirin (Rebetol) is accepted for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of children and adolescents 3 years of age and older, who have chronic hepatitis C, not previously treated, without liver decompensation and who are positive for serum HCV-RNA. The combination is effective in eliminating hepatitis C virus in children and adolescents. The decision to treat should be made on a case by case basis. The expected benefit of treatment should be weighted against the safety findings observed for paediatric subjects in the clinical trials