Who's waiting for treatment with ledipasvir and sofosbuvir?
Tig said
Jul 8, 2014
Here's an interesting blog and brings the thought of an 8 week course of tx into the discussion. It would be a wonderful improvement for an already greatly improved advancement that we've witnessed in the last year alone! Lets hope the day present itself soon that we'll see a one and done (dose)!
Hi Isis! My appointment is in Sept. with the doctor...I don't know if that time they will take another VL test, blood work, whatever (since my initial testing was back in February). I'll keep you posted on what he says...I'm curious about length of treatment and other questions. Thanks for responding! :)
Isiscat2011 said
Jul 8, 2014
pl1952 wrote:
I have my worries too with insurance but I'm hoping it will be better than it was for so many people being denied and going through appeals to get S/O treatment..
It will be better. Keep in mind the S/O tx is not FDA approved. When Sovaldi and Olysio were separately FDA approved, less than a year ago, they were intended to be used (and not necessarily together) for only the sickest patients who could not wait. Because so many people did not want to wait some docs pushed insurance companies for the off label S/O combo and sometimes they got it.
As soon as the medical guidelines are modified to exclude Interferon based treatments all orals will become the SOC and insurance companies will have no choice but to pay for all orals. In December the ABBVie combo should also be approved. Not to worry; everyone in the US will get all orals in the very near future and other countries will be not too far behind.
I think the medical guidelines will be modified fairly fast because most docs are looking forward to getting rid of Interferon and treating patients with the all orals-- just like they were happy to be rid of Incivek and its naughty companion Boceprevir.
Isiscat2011 said
Jul 8, 2014
Hi Pl1952:
I am waiting for the S/L combo and have been for some time. I had an opportunity to treat with the S/O combo but opted not to; my doc wholeheartedly approves of the decision to wait. The S/L combo comes out on Friday, October 10th, and I have an appointment with my doc the following week to get the prescription. I expect it could take a couple of weeks or so to get insurance approval. (I was informed that the combo cannot be pre-approved by insurance because it is not yet FDA approved .)
I must admit I am a bit concerned about RAVs, even with S/L, and will be discussing with my doc the possibility of adding a 3rd DAA or extending tx beyond 12 weeks. I think 8 or 12 weeks treatment duration may be what Gilead is going for with the FDA approval and that may be all insurance companies are willing to pay for unless doctors really push the issue.
If it wasn't for my cirrhosis I'd be waiting a bit longer to see how things shake out in the real world (as opposed to relying only on the clinical trial data). But, that's the way the cookie crumbles. I'm looking forward to starting the S/L.
pl1952 said
Jul 8, 2014
Hi Beacon, I know the feeling of being left behind but October is right around the corner for us. My husband is cirrhotic and his doctor didn't him want to wait to treat. My fibroscan score was 4.5 so my doctor said I can wait for this treatment to come out. I have my worries too with insurance but I'm hoping it will be better than it was for so many people being denied and going through appeals to get S/O treatment..
Beacon said
Jul 8, 2014
Pl count me in on the sof/led waiting list. I am not sure what my insurance will say. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting left behind by all the people treating with S/O but 1) I work mostly outside so that wouldn't be good for Olysio 2) not sure how insurance would react 3) from the clinicals with sof/led it seems my bet so far to achieve SVR being an early stage cirrhotic, etc. Why was your husband treated so fast but you were told to wait?
pl1952 said
Jul 7, 2014
Back in February, at our initial meeting with our doctor, hubby was treated right away with S/O. I was told I could wait till October. Was wondering how many others here on the forum are just hanging and waiting, like me...
Here's an interesting blog and brings the thought of an 8 week course of tx into the discussion. It would be a wonderful improvement for an already greatly improved advancement that we've witnessed in the last year alone! Lets hope the day present itself soon that we'll see a one and done (dose)!
Sovaldi and Ledipasvir with and without Ribavirin - 8 & 12 Weeks
Tig
Hi Isis! My appointment is in Sept. with the doctor...I don't know if that time they will take another VL test, blood work, whatever (since my initial testing was back in February). I'll keep you posted on what he says...I'm curious about length of treatment and other questions. Thanks for responding! :)
It will be better. Keep in mind the S/O tx is not FDA approved. When Sovaldi and Olysio were separately FDA approved, less than a year ago, they were intended to be used (and not necessarily together) for only the sickest patients who could not wait. Because so many people did not want to wait some docs pushed insurance companies for the off label S/O combo and sometimes they got it.
As soon as the medical guidelines are modified to exclude Interferon based treatments all orals will become the SOC and insurance companies will have no choice but to pay for all orals. In December the ABBVie combo should also be approved. Not to worry; everyone in the US will get all orals in the very near future and other countries will be not too far behind.
I think the medical guidelines will be modified fairly fast because most docs are looking forward to getting rid of Interferon and treating patients with the all orals-- just like they were happy to be rid of Incivek and its naughty companion Boceprevir.
Hi Pl1952:
I am waiting for the S/L combo and have been for some time. I had an opportunity to treat with the S/O combo but opted not to; my doc wholeheartedly approves of the decision to wait. The S/L combo comes out on Friday, October 10th, and I have an appointment with my doc the following week to get the prescription. I expect it could take a couple of weeks or so to get insurance approval. (I was informed that the combo cannot be pre-approved by insurance because it is not yet FDA approved .)
I must admit I am a bit concerned about RAVs, even with S/L, and will be discussing with my doc the possibility of adding a 3rd DAA or extending tx beyond 12 weeks. I think 8 or 12 weeks treatment duration may be what Gilead is going for with the FDA approval and that may be all insurance companies are willing to pay for unless doctors really push the issue.
If it wasn't for my cirrhosis I'd be waiting a bit longer to see how things shake out in the real world (as opposed to relying only on the clinical trial data). But, that's the way the cookie crumbles. I'm looking forward to starting the S/L.
Hi Beacon, I know the feeling of being left behind but October is right around the corner for us. My husband is cirrhotic and his doctor didn't him want to wait to treat. My fibroscan score was 4.5 so my doctor said I can wait for this treatment to come out. I have my worries too with insurance but I'm hoping it will be better than it was for so many people being denied and going through appeals to get S/O treatment..
Pl count me in on the sof/led waiting list. I am not sure what my insurance will say. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting left behind by all the people treating with S/O but 1) I work mostly outside so that wouldn't be good for Olysio 2) not sure how insurance would react 3) from the clinicals with sof/led it seems my bet so far to achieve SVR being an early stage cirrhotic, etc. Why was your husband treated so fast but you were told to wait?
Back in February, at our initial meeting with our doctor, hubby was treated right away with S/O. I was told I could wait till October. Was wondering how many others here on the forum are just hanging and waiting, like me...