Information for Healthcare Providers / Patients

Pegasys® (peginterferon alfa-2a)

• Full Prescribing Information

  Includes Copegus prescribing information and injection instructions

• Medication Guide (includes Copegus)

What it Treats

Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) is a prescription medication that is:

• used alone or with Copegus® (ribavirin, USP) to treat adults and children 5 years and older who have chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C infection and certain types of liver problems, and have not taken alpha interferon
• used if you have chronic hepatitis; you should not take Pegasys by itself unless you are not able to take Copegus
• used to treat adults with chronic hepatitis B virus who show signs that the virus is damaging the liver

It is not known if Pegasys is safe and will work in children under 5 years of age.

Important Safety Information

PEGASYS, like other alpha interferons, may cause or make fatal or life-threatening problems worse (like mental, immune system, heart, liver, lung, intestinal and infections). If patients show signs or symptoms of these conditions, their doctor may stop their medication. In many patients, but not all, these conditions get better after they stop taking PEGASYS (see the Medication Guide for more information and Warnings).

Ribavirin, including COPEGUS®, can cause birth defects and/or death to an unborn baby. Female patients and the female partners of male patients should avoid getting pregnant. Ribavirin is known to cause anemia (low red blood cells), which can make heart disease worse (see the Medication Guide for more information and Warnings).

• COPEGUS in combination with PEGASYS may cause birth defects or death of a patient's unborn baby.
• PEGASYS therapy may cause patients to develop mood or behavioral problems.
• Some people who take PEGASYS alone or in combination with COPEGUS may get heart problems.
• Stroke or symptoms of a stroke.
• Some people taking PEGASYS develop new or worsening autoimmune problems.
• Some people who take PEGASYS may get an infection.

PEGASYS alone or in combination with COPEGUS can cause serious side effects. Some of these side effects may cause death. Patients must tell their healthcare provider right away if they have any of these symptoms while taking PEGASYS.

Patients must not take PEGASYS if they:

• have certain other liver problems
• have certain types of hepatitis caused by their immune system attacking the liver (autoimmune hepatitis)
• have had a serious allergic reaction to another alpha interferon medicine or to any of the ingredients in PEGASYS.

Patients must not take PEGASYS in combination with COPEGUS if they:

• are pregnant, or planning to get pregnant during treatment or during the 6 months after treatment
• are a male patient with a female sexual partner who is pregnant or plans to become pregnant at any time while they are being treated with COPEGUS or during the 6 months after their treatment has ended
• have certain blood disorders such as thalassemia major or sickle-cell anemia
• take didanosine (Videx® or Videx® EC)

PEGASYS cannot be given to a baby under 1 year of age. PEGASYS contains benzyl alcohol.

Before taking PEGASYS, patients must tell their healthcare provider about all their medical conditions or problems, and if they are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breast feed during treatment with PEGASYS.

Patients must tell their healthcare provider about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements they take.

PEGASYS can cause serious side effects including: blood problems, thyroid problems, blood sugar problems, serious eye problems, serious liver problems, worsening of liver problems including liver failure and death, lung problems, inflammation of the pancreas, inflammation of the intestines, serious allergic reactions and skin reactions, effect on growth in children, and nerve problems.

The most common, but less serious, side effects of PEGASYS include: flu-like symptoms, tiredness and weakness, stomach problems, loss of appetite, skin reactions, hair thinning, trouble sleeping.

Patients must tell their healthcare provider if they have any side effect that bothers them or that does not go away.

Please see the PEGASYS full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, including Boxed WARNINGS, for additional Important Safety Information.

PEGASYS® and COPEGUS® are registered trademarks of Hoffman-La Roche Inc. All other brands for listed products are trademarks or registered trademarks (as indicated) of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Genentech, Inc. or Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.