IFNAR2 interferon alpha and beta receptor subunit 2
ENSG00000159110 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Together with IFNAR1, forms the heterodimeric receptor for type I interferons (including interferons alpha, beta, epsilon, omega and kappa) (PubMed:10049744, PubMed:10556041, PubMed:21854986, PubMed:26424569, PubMed:28165510, PubMed:32972995, PubMed:7665574, PubMed:7759950, PubMed:8181059, PubMed:8798579, PubMed:8969169). Type I interferon binding activates the JAK-STAT signaling cascade, resulting in transcriptional activation or repression of interferon-regulated genes that encode the effectors of the interferon response (PubMed:10049744, PubMed:17517919, PubMed:21854986, PubMed:26424569, PubMed:28165510, PubMed:32972995, PubMed:7665574, PubMed:7759950, PubMed:8181059, PubMed:8798579, PubMed:8969169). Mechanistically, type I interferon-binding brings the IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits into close proximity with one another, driving their associated Janus kinases (JAKs) (TYK2 bound to IFNAR1 and JAK1 bound to IFNAR2) to cross- phosphorylate one another (PubMed:10556041, PubMed:11682488, PubMed:12105218, PubMed:21854986, PubMed:32972995). The activated kinases phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues on the intracellular domains of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2, forming docking sites for the STAT transcription factors (STAT1, STAT2 and STAT) (PubMed:11682488, PubMed:12105218, PubMed:21854986, PubMed:32972995). STAT proteins are then phosphorylated by the JAKs, promoting their translocation into the nucleus to regulate expression of interferon-regulated genes (PubMed:12105218, PubMed:28165510, PubMed:9121453). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10049744, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10556041, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11682488, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12105218, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17517919, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21854986, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26424569, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28165510, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32972995, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7665574, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7759950, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8181059, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8798579, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8969169, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9121453}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Med-Quality Pocket
- Antibody
- UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM
- PROTAC
- Database Ubiquitination
- Other modalities
- Approved Drug
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.6067299842834473 (upper bound 0.8229399919509888). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 85 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against IFNAR2 (albinterferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2a, ropeginterferon alfa-2b, peginterferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1a), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Cihan YurdaydinAnkara University · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Toshiaki SatoPharmaEssentia JP · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Claire HarrisonActing on behalf of the Sponsor (UK), Guy's Hospital, London, UK, SE1 9RT · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Colin McArthurMedical Research Institute of New Zealand, Study Chair REMAP-CAP New Zealand · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Craig ZimmermanPharmaEssentia USA Corp. · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Daniel OntanedaThe Cleveland Clinic · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Daniel R KuritzkesMassachusetts General Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Derek AngusUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Study Chair REMAP-CAP USA · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Didier NeauHôpital Pellegrin, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Dominique ROULOTBobigny University Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Eric BELLISSANTRennes University Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Fadi HaddadM.D. Anderson Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Florence AderHospices Civils de Lyon · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Franck NICOLINIHopsices Civils de Lyon · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Fusheng WangThe fifth medical center of PLA · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of albinterferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2a, ropeginterferon alfa-2b, peginterferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1a updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 50 of 78 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. 7 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
99 trials of drugs against IFNAR2 were stopped early; 24 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of albinterferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2a, ropeginterferon alfa-2b, peginterferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1a, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 25 most recent of 99.
- terminated · 2026-10-07 · Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“New treatments available, which prevents additional recruitment.”
- withdrawn · 2026-07-31 · PharmaEssentia · Ropeginterferon alfa-2b“In alignment with company strategic direction.”
- terminated · 2026-06-18 · Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice · Peginterferon Alfa-2A 180 MCG/ML Injectable Solution“Only screenfail during inclusion period”
- withdrawn · 2026-02-13 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“No participants enrolled”
- terminated · 2026-01-13 · Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Company decision to discontinue trial”
- terminated · 2025-10-27 · Mayo Clinic · Ropeginterferon Alfa-2B“Study drug became commercially available”
- terminated · 2025-08-24 · Anna Cruceta · Peginterferon alfa-2a“Difficulty in patient recruitment”
- terminated · 2025-02-06 · Bristol-Myers Squibb · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Business objectives have changed”
- terminated · 2024-08-13 · Bosnalijek D.D · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“During the Covid-19 pandemic, the study was unable to enrol further patients.”
- withdrawn · 2024-07-12 · Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Interferon Beta-1A“Study closed before opening to accrual, no participants enrolled”
- withdrawn · 2024-06-03 · Biogen · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Sponsor decision to withdraw study at this time.”
- terminated · 2024-03-06 · Janssen Research & Development, LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“A strategic decision was made to not further execute the study. This decision was not based on a safety concern.”
- terminated · 2023-11-30 · University of Nebraska · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“new medications with improved response released”
- withdrawn · 2023-08-15 · University of Nebraska · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“lack of enrollment”
- withdrawn · 2023-08-09 · Baptist Health South Florida · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“PI is leaving institution prior to study opening for accrual.”
- terminated · 2023-07-21 · Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The decision is based on changes in the pandemic and further weakening of the recruitment that will not enable a completion of the study in any reasonable time”
- terminated · 2023-06-15 · Biogen · Peginterferon Beta-1a“Decision to stop the trial was based on long-term difficulties in fulfilling our enrolment commitments and changes in paediatric MS landscape which no longer support placebo-controlled trials.Decision to stop study was not based on safety concerns.”
- withdrawn · 2023-06-01 · Biogen · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Decision to discontinue BIIB061 program was based on lack of stronger preclinical effects of BIIB061 on remyelination relative to opicinumab, that showed limited clinical efficacy in phase 2 clinical studies. This was not related to safety concerns.”
- terminated · 2022-05-26 · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- withdrawn · 2022-04-06 · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Slow/Insufficient accrual”
- withdrawn · 2021-11-09 · Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Business Decision”
- withdrawn · 2021-11-01 · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2021-08-05 · EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Following analysis of open label extension (OLE) data from RMS phase 2 study (MS200527- 0086), it was determined that a change in active comparator warranted in phase 3 RMS comprised of trial MS200527-0073. Consequently, this trial terminated early.”
- terminated · 2021-08-05 · EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Following analysis of open label extension (OLE) data from RMS phase 2 study (MS200527- 0086), it was determined that a change in active comparator warranted in phase 3 RMS comprised of trial MS200527-0074. Consequently, this trial terminated early.”
- terminated · 2021-01-14 · Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd · Interferon Beta-1A“IDMC recommendation. Unexpectedly high use of concomitant corticosteroid treatment.”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for IFNAR2's drugs
For albinterferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2a, ropeginterferon alfa-2b, peginterferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1a: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · IFNAR2 is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: yes · EMEA-001129-PIP01-11-M06 (peginterferon beta-1a, Treatment of multiple sclerosis): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 25 Oct 2023; EMEA-002238-PIP01-17-M01 (interferon beta-1a, Treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 17 Mar 2021; EMEA-000298-PIP01-08-M06 (peginterferon alfa-2a, Treatment of chronic hepatitis B;Treatment of chronic hepatitis C): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 7 May 2018; compliance positive 29 May 2019Rule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/22/2709 positive 11 Oct 2022: Treatment of essential thrombocythaemia; EU/3/22/2627 positive 21 Jun 2022: Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia; EU/3/11/932 withdrawn 9 Dec 2011: Treatment of polycythaemia vera; EU/3/15/1568 positive 11 Nov 2015: Treatment of Middle East respiratory syndromeRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: yes · Plegridy: authorised since 18 Jul 2014; Besremi: authorised since 15 Feb 2019; Pegasys: authorised since 20 Jun 2002; Rebif: authorised since 3 May 1998; +3 moreRule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of albinterferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2a, ropeginterferon alfa-2b, peginterferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1aRule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-12
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 47 interventional studies of albinterferon alfa-2b, interferon alfa-n3, interferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2a, ropeginterferon alfa-2b, peginterferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1a include patients under 18; 5 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-12
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 11 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.