Table 3.
Details about interferons, including types, subtypes, molecular mechanisms, SARS-CoV-2 related properties, therapy names, phases of testing and patent ownership
| Type and molecular mechanism of action | Subtype | Generic names | Trade names | Phase (preclinical, phase 1/2/3/4) | Patent ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFN-α (type 1) | IFN-α1 | Interferon alfa-1 | N/A | Preclinical | Novagen Holding Corp |
| IFN-α2a |
Interferon alfa-2a Peginterferon alfa-2a |
Roferon®-A (interferon alfa-2a), Pegasys | Phase 3 | Hoffmann La Roche | |
| IFN-α2b | alpha interferon, IFN-alpha | Intron® A (interferon alfa-2b) | Phase 4 | Intron A: Biogen/Schering-Plough | |
| IFN-α4 | N/A | N/A | Preclinical | AIM Immunotech Inc | |
| IFN-α5 | N/A | NAHE 001 | Phase 2 | Digna Biotech | |
| IFN-α6 | N/A | N/A | Preclinical | N/A | |
| IFN-α7 | N/A | N/A | Preclinical | AIM Immunotech Inc | |
| Rapid induction of antibody response, stimulated by virus and produced by both immune and non-immune cells, primarily induces viral resistance. Mostly involved in innate immunity to alert the organism of viral infection by detection of double stranded DNA and inhibit virus multiplication | IFN-α8 | N/A | PF-04849285, rhIFN-α8 | Preclinical | Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, AIM Immunotech Inc |
| IFN-α10 | Interferon alfa-10 | IFN-alpha C | Preclinical | AIM Immunotech Inc | |
| IFN-α13 | Interferon alpha-13 | N/A | Preclinical | N/A | |
| IFN-α14 | rhIFN-α14 | N/A | Preclinical | Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine | |
| IFN-α16 | N/A | N/A | Preclinical | AIM Immunotech Inc | |
| IFN-α17 | N/A | N/A | Preclinical | AIM Immunotech Inc | |
| IFN-α21 | N/A | N/A | Preclinical | AIM Immunotech Inc | |
| Multi-subtype | IFN-alpha | Multiferon | Phase 4 | Viragen | |
| IFN-β (type 1) | IFN-β1a | N/A | Avonex®, Plegridy®, Rebif® | Phase 4 | Biogen Inc, EMD Serono Canada Inc |
| Expressed by all nucleated cells and may be expressed in isolation of most type 1 IFNs. Primary function is to induce viral resistance in cells | IFN-β1b | N/A | BETASERON®, Extavia® | Bayer Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc | |
| IFN-K (type 1) | N/A | Interferon-α kinoid | N/A | Phase 3 | Neovacs |
| Primarily expressed by keratinocytes and has a role against herpes simplex virus, papilloma virus, and cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Constitutively expressed, but exhibits low anti-viral activity | |||||
| IFN-δ (type 1) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Antiviral and immunomodulatory activity | |||||
| IFN-E (type 1): | N/A | IFN-epsilon | N/A | N/A | Elf Sanofi SA, Abbott Biotech Inc, Repligen Corp |
| Constitutively expressed, functions like type 1 interferons | |||||
| IFN-ω (type 1) | N/A | IFN-omega | rFeIFN-ω, Virbagen Omega | Preclinical | Oбщecтвo c oгpaничeннoй oтвeтcтвeннocтью "Hayчнo-Texнoлoгичecкий Цeнтp "БиoИнвecт" (rFeIFN-ω), Virbac SA (Virbagen) |
| Secreted by visus-infected leukocytes, suggested to neutralize autoantibodies in human disease, including with SARS-CoV-2 | |||||
| IFN-τ (type 1) | N/A | IFN-tau | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Promotes anti-viral activity and suppresses viral replication | |||||
| IFN-ζ (type 1) | N/A | IFN-zeta/limitin | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Displays antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antitumor effects | |||||
| IFN-i (type 1) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| IFN-γ (type II) | N/A | Interferon gamma-1b | Immukin, Actimmune® | Phase 2,3 RCTs | Horizon Therapeutics PLC (generic), Boehringer Ingelheim (Immukin), Horizon Therapeutics Ireland Dac (Actimmune) |
| Primary activator of macrophages, stimulates natural killer cells and neutrophils, up-regulation of pathogen recognition and anti-viral activities | |||||
| IFN-λ | IFN-λ3 (type III): IFN-λ hampers lung repair by inducing p53 and inhibiting epithelial proliferation and differentiation | N/A | Pegylated type 3 interferon | Preclinical | Zymogenetics LLC, Squibb Bristol Myers Co, Hausman Diana F, Dodds Micahel G |
| Activated by viral infections, triggers antiviral activity not limited to specific cell types, unlike type 1 IFNs. Provides weaker direct antiviral protection but strong antiviral immunity | IFN-λ1 (type III): Activity in innate antiviral responses, particularly against respiratory pathogens | N/A | Peginterferon Lambda-1a | Phase 4 | Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Zymogenetics LLC, Squibb Bristol Myers Co, Hausman Diana F, Dodds Micahel G |
| IFN-λ2: Alleviates/reduces viral respiratory disorders, such as asthma arising from rhinovirus infection | N/A | Pegylated type 3 interferon | Preclinical | Zymogenetics LLC, Squibb Bristol Myers Co, Hausman Diana F, Dodds Micahel G |