Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Interferon alfa-2a is a recombinant version of a natural immune signalling protein with antiviral, antiproliferative and immune-boosting effects. It was used for hepatitis B and C, some leukaemias and lymphomas, melanoma and kidney cancer; the long-acting pegylated form (Pegasys) has largely replaced it. It was sold as Roferon-A.
As a protein, interferon alfa is not handled by drug-processing enzymes. The few gene studies listing it looked at HLA-B and FTO for response in hepatitis, and at IDO1 for depression, a well-known side effect of interferon treatment. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Interferon alfa-2a. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
IDO1 rs9657182: Level 3. Toxicity: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection. 1.
FTO rs9939609: Level 3. Efficacy: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection, HIV infectious disease. 1.
HLA-B HLA-B*44:02: Level 3. Efficacy: Hepatitis C virus infection. 1.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Interferon alfa-2b (Interferons)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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