PEG-aldesleukin

PEG-aldesleukin is a pegylated formulation of recombinant human interleukin-2 (aldesleukin), originally developed by Chiron Corporation. Interleukin-2 is a potent cytokine that plays a central role in the immune system by stimulating the proliferation and activation of T-lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. The addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to the IL-2 molecule (pegylation) is designed to increase its hydrodynamic size, thereby reducing renal clearance and significantly extending its biological half-life compared to the non-pegylated form. In the 1990s, PEG-aldesleukin was investigated as an immunomodulatory adjunct to antiretroviral therapy (such as zidovudine or didanosine) in patients with HIV infection. The therapeutic goal was to restore immune function by expanding CD4+ T-cell populations. While clinical trials demonstrated the ability of the drug to increase CD4+ counts, development for the HIV indication was eventually discontinued by Chiron.

Other names

Polyethylene glycolated interleukin-2PEG-interleukin-2PEG-interleukin2PEG-interleukin 2Pegylated IL-2PEG-IL2PEG-IL-2PEG-IL 2