One type of Lymphoblastoid interferon was available until very recently under the brand name Welferon. In December of 2000, Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham merged to form GlaxoSmithKline. They no longer produce Wellferon. It was available in most countries worldwide, (except in the USA).
Lymphoblastoid interferon (IFN-alpha-n1) is produced from a human lymphoid cell line and consists of subtypes of IFN-alpha. This is different from the recombinant IFNs, which are single proteins produced from individual IFN-alpha genes and “developed” in E. coli.
In 1998 trials on 1,971 patients, comparing lymphoblastoid IFN to IFN Alpha-2b, the lymphoblastoid IFN produced more sustained responders (Hepatology 1998;27:1121-1127).
Researchers suggest that lymphoblastoid IFN and other interferons may be very effective, if modified by pegylation, against certain types of hepatitis C (J Med Virol 2003; 70:62-73).
