Bioavailability of interferon Alfa 2b in chronic hepatitis C patients by using limited sampling strategy

ABSTRACT

About 5 million people are infected with hepatitis B virus and about 10 million people harbor the hepatitis C virus in Pakistan. Management of chronic hepatitis in Pakistan carries substantial social impact like fear of tolerability of the drug due to its side effects and the most commonly its affordability. Interferon in combination with Ribavirin is used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients. There are about 60 preparations are available in Pakistan imported from different countries with claim of bioavailability more than 90% . Bioavailability of interferon has not been studied yet in Pakistan. This study was designed to find out the first dose bioavailability of the three formulations of interferon alpha 2b which are commonly prescribed by using limited sampling strategy to help the physician to select the drug with maximum bioavailability: