• What Is PEGASYS?
• What Is COPEGUS?
• Effectiveness of PEGASYS
• Side Effects of Treatment
• See How PEGASYS Works
• Is PEGASYS Right for Me?
• PEGASYS as Treatment for People With HIV and HCV
• PEGASYS as Treatment for People With Hepatitis B
• Educational Videos

How Pegasys Works – The Pegylation Process

Pegylation: Helping to keep PEGASYS around longer

To help interferon last longer in the body, science has turned to a process called "pegylation." Through pegylation, a special strand (commonly called a PEG) is attached to the interferon molecule. Once attached, the PEG helps protect the interferon from being destroyed by your immune system. As a result, interferon that has a PEG can last longer in the body. This added time in the body improves the chances that alpha interferon will reach and kill hepatitis C-infected cells.

There are different types of pegylated alpha interferons. PEGASYS uses a large, branched PEG.

Pegylated Molecules

Pegylation for Protection From Destruction

PEG Structures