FILGEN is also indicated for the mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC).

In patients, children or adults, with severe congenital, cyclic, or idiopathic neutropenia with an ANC of 0.5 x 109/L, and a history of severe or recurrent infections, long term administration of FILGEN is indicated to increase neutrophil counts and to reduce the incidence and duration of infection-related events.

FILGEN is indicated for the treatment of persistent neutropenia (ANC less than or equal to 1.0 x 109/L) in patients with advanced HIV infection, in order to reduce the risk of bacterial infections when other options to manage neutropenia are inappropriate.

Chronic Hepatitis C: Treatment of adult patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C who have serum markers for virus C replication, e.g., those who have elevated transaminases without liver decompensation and who are positive for serum HCV-RNA or anti-HCV.

The efficacy of interferon alfa-2b in the treatment of hepatitis C is enhanced when combined with ribavirin.

Hairy Cell Leukaemia: Treatment of patients with hairy cell leukaemia.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia: Monotherapy: Treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome or bcr/abl translocation positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia.

Clinical experience indicates that a haematologic and cytogenetic major/ minor response is obtainable in the majority of patients treated. A major cytogenetic response is defined by < 34 % Ph+ leukaemic cells in the bone marrow, whereas a minor response is 34 %, but < 90 % Ph+ cells in the marrow.

Combination therapy: The combination of interferon alfa-2b and cytarabine (Ara-C) administered during the first 12 months of treatment has been demonstrated to significantly increase the rate of major cytogenetic responses and to significantly prolong the overall survival at three years when compared to interferon alfa-2b monotherapy.

Multiple Myeloma: As maintenance therapy in patients who have achieved objective remission (more than 50 % reduction in myeloma protein) following initial induction chemotherapy.

Current clinical experience indicates that maintenance therapy with interferon alfa-2b prolongs the plateau phase; however, effects on overall survival have not been conclusively demonstrated.

Follicular Lymphoma: Treatment of high tumour burden follicular lymphoma as adjunct to appropriate combination induction chemotherapy such as a CHOP-like regimen. High tumour burden is defined as having at least one of the following: bulky tumour mass > 7 cm), involvement of three or more nodal sites (each> 3 cm), systemic symptoms (weight loss> 10 %, fever> 38°C for more than 8 days, or nocturnal sweats), splenomegaly beyond the umbilicus, major organ obstruction or compression syndrome, orbital or epidural involvement, serous effusion, or leukaemia.

Carcinoid Tumour: Treatment of carcinoid tumours with lymph node or liver metastases and with "carcinoid syndrome".

Malignant Melanoma: As adjuvant therapy in patients who are free of disease after surgery but are at high risk of systemic recurrence, e.g., patients with primary or recurrent (clinical or pathological) lymph node involvement.

Chronic Hepatitis C: INF is administered subcutaneously at a dose of 3 million IU three times a week (every other day), whether administered as monotherapy or in combination with ribavirin (Xolox).

Hairy Cell Leukaemia: The recommended dosage is 2 million IU/m2 administered subcutaneously three times a week (every other day) for both splenectomised and non-splenectomised patients.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia: The recommended dosage of INF is 4 to 5 million IU/m2 administered daily subcutaneously. Some patients have been shown to benefit from INF 5 million IU/m2 administered daily subcutaneously in association with cytarabine (AraC) 20 mg/m2 administered daily subcutaneously for 10 days per month (up to a maximum daily dose of 40 mg).

Multiple Myeloma: Maintenance therapy: In patients who are in the plateau phase (more than 50 % reduction of myeloma protein) following initial induction chemotherapy, INF may be administered as monotherapy, subcutaneously, at a dose of 3 million IU/m2 three times a week (every other day).

Follicular Lymphoma: Adjunctively with chemotherapy, INF may be administered subcutaneously, at a dose of 5 million IU three times a week (every other day) for a duration of 18 months. CHOP-like regimens are advised, but clinical experience is available only with CHVP (combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, teniposide and prednisolone).

Carcinoid Tumour: The usual dose is 5 million IU (3 to 9 million IU) administered subcutaneously three times a week (every other day). Patients with advanced disease may require a daily dose of 5 million IU.

Malignant Melanoma: As induction therapy, INF is administered intravenously at a dose of 20 million IU/m2 daily for five days a week for a four-week period; the calculated INF dose is added to 0.9 % sodium chloride solution and administered as a 20 minute infusion.