Hi Medusa, Regarding your question about SVR rates for prior non-responders, this is directly from the Incivek web site, Incivek.com (look down the page and open "full prescribing information").
Quoted:
"The nonresponder population included 2 subgroups: prior partial responders (greater than or equal to 2-log10 reduction in HCV-RNA at week 12, but not achieving HCV RNA undetectable at end of treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin) and prior null responders (less than 2-log10 reduction in HCV-RNA at week 12 of prior treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin).
You know, she could try the TX, and know by the first month how the viral load was responding, and also how SHE was responding with the side effects.
Brad
col135 said
Feb 22, 2012
Hello there, im based in the uk and also had the standard tx in 2010 peg/rib this tx was stopped by my consultant after just 12 weeks no significant drop in viral load and problems with low platelets /white cell count as well.Was put of for quite awhile because my doctor said nobody would sanction the cost of the new tx at that time.Also because being hep c genotype 1 and the fact of fibrosis/scar tissue nodules and cirhosis liver damage he said i should wait a bit longer.Now he has suggested after looking at my recent blood results which are poor, im now awaiting on an ultrasound then im going to try these new drugs at barts hospital in london.This i imagine will be my last attempt at tx so fingers crossed.All the best for the future col135.
Skywalker said
Oct 31, 2010
Yes, they have taken me off treatment. The doctor called and said that the virus wasn't reduced enough to continue, especially in light of my low platelet count. He didn't give specific numbers, I'll get those when I get another checkup Dec 1st. He said better treatments were coming next year, I assume that he means the protease inhibitors. A small dose of good news for hepatitis victims, My hospital (Wake Forest) just announced the creation of small livers made from cells. A first step in growing replacements.
medusa said
Oct 24, 2010
Hi Skywalker, I'm very sorry to hear you haven't responded to tx. Have they taken you off the meds now? I saw you started 16th July, and had other health problems to cope with on tx. Did you get any drop in the viral level, or find out what genotype you are? Has your doctor mentioned the possibility of another treatment? Bernadette is still looking for answers to her questions, which her liver specialist either can't or won't answer, though she is pushing her to do another tx. I hope you both get some answers soon........... Love Annie xxxxx
Skywalker said
Oct 23, 2010
Thanks for posting this Medusa, I am now a non-responder also and would like to know if the new drugs could help me.
medusa said
Oct 15, 2010
Hi, I would like to find out some information for my friend Bernadette, she doesn't speak english, so can't post here herself. She is 58 years old, genotypes 1a/1b, early stages of cirrosis, highish viral count. She has done 48 weeks of tx ( pegelated interferon and ribervirin) twice, and was a total not- responder......her viral load increased on treatment. Her first tx was in 2003, full dose of meds for 48 weeks. She had all the usual sx, anaemia, very low white blood cell count, became very depressed, and had low thyroid problems, which caused her to gain a lot of weight. The second tx was in 2004/2005, 48 weeks on a reduced amount of meds, intended to slow the progress of the disease. This time she had less sx, but the tx seemed to have no effect on either viral levels or the progress of liver damage. She has now been offered a place on a trial for another 48 week tx, starting at the end of 2011. This will be using Teleprevir, or possibly Boceprevir in combination with interferon and ribervirin. She knows this is probably a last chance to beat the virus, but is reluctant to take it, given that the other tx's were so unsuccessful, and left her with long term health problems i.e. depression that continued until 2008 despite taking meds for this, and low thyroid, which she still has. She is now happy, and leading a full life despite her health problems. She would like to know if there is any evidence that this new tx can help previous non-responders, with any specific data and statistics to back this up. She would love to hear from anyone on the forum who was a previous non-responder who has successfully done a tx including the protease-inhibiting drugs. Most of the trials we have read about used treatment-naive patients, or do not give specific data for previous non -responders. Can anyone help?
Hi Medusa, Regarding your question about SVR rates for prior non-responders, this is directly from the Incivek web site, Incivek.com (look down the page and open "full prescribing information").
Quoted:
"The nonresponder population included 2 subgroups:
prior partial responders (greater than or equal to 2-log10 reduction in HCV-RNA at week 12, but not achieving HCV RNA undetectable at end of treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin) and prior null responders (less than 2-log10 reduction in HCV-RNA at week 12 of prior treatment with peginterferon
alfa and ribavirin).
SVR rate
Prior relapsers 86% (246/286)
Prior partial responders 59% (57/97)
Prior null responders 32% (47/147) "
You know, she could try the TX, and know by the first month how the viral load was responding, and also how SHE was responding with the side effects.
Brad
Hello there, im based in the uk and also had the standard tx in 2010 peg/rib this tx was stopped by my consultant after just 12 weeks no significant drop in viral load and problems with low platelets /white cell count as well.Was put of for quite awhile because my doctor said nobody would sanction the cost of the new tx at that time.Also because being hep c genotype 1 and the fact of fibrosis/scar tissue nodules and cirhosis liver damage he said i should wait a bit longer.Now he has suggested after looking at my recent blood results which are poor, im now awaiting on an ultrasound then im going to try these new drugs at barts hospital in london.This i imagine will be my last attempt at tx so fingers crossed.All the best for the future col135.
Love Annie xxxxx
She is 58 years old, genotypes 1a/1b, early stages of cirrosis, highish viral count.
She has done 48 weeks of tx ( pegelated interferon and ribervirin) twice, and was a total not- responder......her viral load increased on treatment.
Her first tx was in 2003, full dose of meds for 48 weeks. She had all the usual sx, anaemia, very low white blood cell count, became very depressed, and had low thyroid problems, which caused her to gain a lot of weight.
The second tx was in 2004/2005, 48 weeks on a reduced amount of meds, intended to slow the progress of the disease. This time she had less sx, but the tx seemed to have no effect on either viral levels or the progress of liver damage.
She has now been offered a place on a trial for another 48 week tx, starting at the end of 2011. This will be using Teleprevir, or possibly Boceprevir in combination with interferon and ribervirin. She knows this is probably a last chance to beat the virus, but is reluctant to take it, given that the other tx's were so unsuccessful, and left her with long term health problems i.e. depression that continued until 2008 despite taking meds for this, and low thyroid, which she still has.
She is now happy, and leading a full life despite her health problems.
She would like to know if there is any evidence that this new tx can help previous non-responders, with any specific data and statistics to back this up. She would love to hear from anyone on the forum who was a previous non-responder who has successfully done a tx including the protease-inhibiting drugs. Most of the trials we have read about used treatment-naive patients, or do not give specific data for previous non -responders. Can anyone help?