. 2013 Mar 28;12(4):306–324. doi: 10.1038/nrd3974

Table 1.

Clinically used recombinant cytokine immunomodulatory biologics

Biologic	Type	Indications	Immune-related safety warnings
Aldesleukin	Recombinant human IL-2	Metastatic renal cell carcinoma, metastatic melanoma	• Boxed warnings for capillary leak syndrome and infection • Risk of hypersensitivity reported¹⁶⁹
Filgrastim	Recombinant methionyl human G-CSF	AML, bone marrow transplant in cancer, blood progenitor cell collection and therapy, chronic neutropaenia	• No boxed or product label warnings issued • Risk of splenic rupture and ARDS indicated in product label • Additional monitoring required by the MHRA
Interferon alpha	Recombinant human IFNα	Chronic hepatitis C, hairy cell leukaemia, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, CML	• Boxed warnings for autoimmune reactions and infections • Risk of cytopaenia indicated in product label • Risk of immunogenicity reported¹⁷⁰
Interferon beta-1a	Recombinant human IFNβ1a	Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis	• No boxed or product label warnings issued • Anaphylaxis reported post-approval • Immunogenicity reported¹⁷⁰
Interferon beta-1b	Recombinant human IFNβ1b	Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis	• No boxed warnings issued • Lymphopaenia risk indicated in product label • Risk of immunogenicity reported¹⁷⁰
Interferon gamma	Recombinant human IFNγ	Chronic granulomatous disease, malignant osteopetrosis	• No boxed or product label warnings issued
Peginterferon alfa-2a	Pegylated recombinant human IFNα2a	Chronic hepatitis C	• Boxed warnings issued for autoimmune reactions and infections • Risk of cytopaenia indicated in product label
Peginterferon alfa-2b	Pegylated recombinant human IFNα2b	Chronic hepatitis C	• Boxed warnings issued for autoimmune reactions and infections • Risk of cytopaenia indicated in product label
Sargramostim	Recombinant human GM-CSF	AML, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bone marrow transplant	• No boxed or product label warnings issued
AML, acute myeloid leukaemia; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; CML, chronic myeloid leukaemia; G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; GM-CSF, granulocyte–macrophage CSF; IFNα, interferon-α; IL-2, interleukin-2; MHRA, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK).