Long-term outcomes of thymosin-alpha 1 and interferon alpha-2b combination therapy in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B.

Saruc M, Ozden N, Turkel N, Ayhan S, Hock LM, Tuzcuoglu I, Yuceyar H

Journal of pharmaceutical sciences1 Jul 2003Cited by 27 (Europe PMC)

PMID12820143DOI10.1002/jps.10401PepBankPUB-12820143

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, adding thymosin alpha‑1 to interferon alpha-2b gave a sustained response of 74% versus 40% with interferon alone; the group difference was not significant (p = 0.13).
In plain wordsIn hepatitis B, adding thymosin alpha‑1 to interferon gave 74% sustained response against 40% with interferon alone, not a clear difference.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
No significant changeSustained response at end of 78 weeks
Study
n = 37
Comparator
Interferon alpha-2b alone
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Studied dose
1.6 mg twice a week · subcutaneous · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
sustained response
74%
thymosin alpha 1 plus interferon
sustained response
40%
interferon alone
Source sentences
Summary
By the end of 78 weeks, a sustained response (SR-6 mo) was seen in 74% (20/27) of the patients within Group 1.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
On the contrary, Groups 2 and 3 had sustained response rates of 40 (4/10) and 53.3% (8/15), respectively (p = 0.13).
Summary · context
Fifty-two patients with HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were assigned to three different groups in a nonrandomized manner.
Summary · context
Group 1 (n = 27) received thymosin-alpha1 [1.6 mg subcutaneously (sc), twice a week] and interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 26 weeks, subsequently followed by interferon alpha-2b monotherapy at the same dosage for an additional 26 weeks.
Report a problemFND-1282014301
02HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, adding thymosin alpha‑1 to interferon alpha-2b gave a higher response rate 12 months after treatment (70.3%) than interferon alone (20%).
In plain wordsIn hepatitis B, adding thymosin alpha‑1 to interferon gave more responders a year after treatment than interferon alone.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseVirological and biochemical response at 12 months post-treatment
Study
n = 37
Comparator
Interferon alpha-2b alone
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Studied dose
1.6 mg twice a week · subcutaneous · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
response rate
70.3%
thymosin alpha 1 plus interferon
response rate
20%
interferon alone
Source sentences
Summary
At the end of 12 months post-treatment in Group 1, a virological and biochemical response rate was seen in 70.3% of patients (19/27); in contrast, Groups 2 and 3 had response rates of 20 (2/10) and 26.6% (4/15), respectively (p = 0036).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Fifty-two patients with HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were assigned to three different groups in a nonrandomized manner.
Summary · context
Group 1 (n = 27) received thymosin-alpha1 [1.6 mg subcutaneously (sc), twice a week] and interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 26 weeks, subsequently followed by interferon alpha-2b monotherapy at the same dosage for an additional 26 weeks.
Report a problemFND-1282014303
03HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, 71.4% of patients given thymosin alpha‑1 plus interferon alpha-2b kept their response 18 months after treatment, against 10% with interferon alone.
In plain wordsIn hepatitis B, adding thymosin alpha‑1 to interferon kept more patients responding 18 months later than interferon alone.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreasePreserved sustained response at 18 months post-treatment
Study
n = 37
Comparator
Interferon alpha-2b alone
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Studied dose
1.6 mg twice a week · subcutaneous · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
preserved sustained response
71.4%
thymosin alpha 1 plus interferon
preserved sustained response
10%
interferon alone
Source sentences
Summary
At the end of the 18-month post-treatment follow-up period, 71.4% (19/27) of patients in Group 1, 10% of patients in Group 2 (1/10), and 20% of patients in Group 3(3/15) preserved their sustained response (p = 0.0003).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Fifty-two patients with HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were assigned to three different groups in a nonrandomized manner.
Summary · context
Group 1 (n = 27) received thymosin-alpha1 [1.6 mg subcutaneously (sc), twice a week] and interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 26 weeks, subsequently followed by interferon alpha-2b monotherapy at the same dosage for an additional 26 weeks.
Report a problemFND-1282014305

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

04HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, thymosin alpha‑1 plus interferon alpha-2b gave a sustained response of 74% versus 53.3% with interferon plus lamivudine; the group difference was not significant (p = 0.13).
In plain wordsIn hepatitis B, a regimen of thymosin alpha‑1 plus interferon gave 74% sustained response against 53.3% with interferon plus lamivudine, not a clear difference.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
No significant changeSustained response at end of 78 weeks
Study
n = 42
Comparator
Interferon alpha-2b plus lamivudine
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Measurements
sustained response
74%
thymosin alpha 1 plus interferon
sustained response
53.3%
interferon plus lamivudine
Source sentences
Summary
By the end of 78 weeks, a sustained response (SR-6 mo) was seen in 74% (20/27) of the patients within Group 1.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
On the contrary, Groups 2 and 3 had sustained response rates of 40 (4/10) and 53.3% (8/15), respectively (p = 0.13).
Summary · context
Fifty-two patients with HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were assigned to three different groups in a nonrandomized manner.
Summary · context
Group 1 (n = 27) received thymosin-alpha1 [1.6 mg subcutaneously (sc), twice a week] and interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 26 weeks, subsequently followed by interferon alpha-2b monotherapy at the same dosage for an additional 26 weeks.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-1282014302
05HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, thymosin alpha‑1 plus interferon alpha-2b gave a higher response rate 12 months after treatment (70.3%) than interferon plus lamivudine (26.6%).
In plain wordsIn hepatitis B, a regimen of thymosin alpha‑1 plus interferon gave more responders a year after treatment than interferon plus lamivudine.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreaseVirological and biochemical response at 12 months post-treatment
Study
n = 42
Comparator
Interferon alpha-2b plus lamivudine
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Measurements
response rate
70.3%
thymosin alpha 1 plus interferon
response rate
26.6%
interferon plus lamivudine
Source sentences
Summary
At the end of 12 months post-treatment in Group 1, a virological and biochemical response rate was seen in 70.3% of patients (19/27); in contrast, Groups 2 and 3 had response rates of 20 (2/10) and 26.6% (4/15), respectively (p = 0036).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Fifty-two patients with HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were assigned to three different groups in a nonrandomized manner.
Summary · context
Group 1 (n = 27) received thymosin-alpha1 [1.6 mg subcutaneously (sc), twice a week] and interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 26 weeks, subsequently followed by interferon alpha-2b monotherapy at the same dosage for an additional 26 weeks.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-1282014304
06HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, 71.4% of patients given thymosin alpha‑1 plus interferon alpha-2b kept their response 18 months after treatment, against 20% with interferon plus lamivudine.
In plain wordsIn hepatitis B, a regimen of thymosin alpha‑1 plus interferon kept more patients responding 18 months later than interferon plus lamivudine.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
IncreasePreserved sustained response at 18 months post-treatment
Study
n = 42
Comparator
Interferon alpha-2b plus lamivudine
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Measurements
preserved sustained response
71.4%
thymosin alpha 1 plus interferon
preserved sustained response
20%
interferon plus lamivudine
Source sentences
Summary
At the end of the 18-month post-treatment follow-up period, 71.4% (19/27) of patients in Group 1, 10% of patients in Group 2 (1/10), and 20% of patients in Group 3(3/15) preserved their sustained response (p = 0.0003).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Fifty-two patients with HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were assigned to three different groups in a nonrandomized manner.
Summary · context
Group 1 (n = 27) received thymosin-alpha1 [1.6 mg subcutaneously (sc), twice a week] and interferon alpha-2b (10 MIU sc, three times per week) for 26 weeks, subsequently followed by interferon alpha-2b monotherapy at the same dosage for an additional 26 weeks.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-1282014306

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 3Current
10 Oct 2026, 08:55 UTC
Study results updated
Version 2
9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC
Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:02 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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