[10] With the advent of Direct-Acting-Antivirals (DAAs — ), interferon-based treatment regimens gradually fell out of fashion due to relatively poor efficacy and high frequency of adverse side-effects.

[14][15] The usage remains controversial — frequency of severe side-effects is high, overall survival benefits substantially vary across different trials, and there is no consensus on the dosage regimen.

[16] On 23 April 2021, the Drugs Controller General of India approved emergency use of the medication (upon a request by Cadila Healthcare; trade name is Virafin) for treating moderate COVID-19 infections.

[4][8] Common side effects include fatigue, headache, insomnia, depression, mood swings, hair loss, nausea, diarrhea, myalgia and associated skeletal pain, anorexia, fever etc.

This finding, originally reported in Nature,[18] showed that genotype 1 hepatitis C patients carrying certain genetic variant alleles near the IL28B gene are more likely to achieve sustained virological response after the treatment than others.