Pharmacotherapeutic group: Interferons

ATCvet code : QL03AB

Omega interferon of feline origin, produced by genetic engineering, is a type Ι interferon closely related to alpha interferon. The exact mechanism of action of interferon omega is not perfectly known, but may involve enhancement of the non-specific defence of the body, in particular in the dog against canine parvovirosis and in the cat against feline retrovirosis (FeLV, FIV). Interferon does not act directly and specifically on the pathogenic virus, but exerts its effect by inhibition of the internal synthesis mechanisms of the infected cells.

After injection it is quickly bound to specific receptors of a large variety of cells. It is mainly in cells infected by virus that the mechanism of replication is stopped both by destruction of mRNA and by inactivation of translation proteins (2'5' oligo-adenylate synthetase activation).