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Hep C Discussion Forum -> Hep C News -> Merck Voluntarily Discontinuing VICTRELIS in the U.S.
Post Info TOPIC: Merck Voluntarily Discontinuing VICTRELIS in the U.S.
Scruffy


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RE: Merck Voluntarily Discontinuing VICTRELIS in the U.S.
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The hand writing for this was pretty much on the wall already. First Incivek now Victrelis. I was on the Incivek. Although I had pretty rough time I'm thankful for that generation of drugs. Looks like the "Friday night darts" and "treatment intolerant" sections are a thing of the past. Thank God and medical science for that.



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Geno 1a null responder 2004 inter/riba   finished incivek,peg/riba 48 weeks May 17th 2014. undetect weeks 4-12-32.  EOT+7 undetect. EOT+24 SVR!!!!! EOT+!YEAR SVR!!!!
Tig


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I remember being upset that my Hepa selected Victrelis for me without much discussion. Incivek offered a slightly higher rate of success at the time and I wondered if he had selected the right option. I probably wouldn't have known much anyway, as I wasn't a member here until these decisions were made. But as it turned out, the choice was a good one and I not only achieved SVR on the first attempt with this PI, but I avoided the ugliness of Incivek that would've been my only other choice. For anyone contemplating treatment with this drug, because your choice is limited or non existent and if your liver is in the condition that warrants treatment within the next year, you shouldn't hesitate to get on board. While it's not without it's side effects, it's a completely doable protocol and it works. I would've preferred to do the new Harvoni or a different Sovaldi combination, but I'm not sorry that I received this opportunity either! Our goal was to obtain SVR and at the time, we didn't have much of a choice. It was Peg Interferon, Ribavirn and if you were a GT1, it was either Incivek or Victrelis. It was 28 weeks of intense and sometimes troublesome treatment, but it gave me my liver back and for that I will be forever thankful to God and Merck for my second chance.

Tig



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Tig

67yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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hrsetrdr


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Thanks Jill, great find.

I waited for Victrelis to come available, and from what I heard from those treating with Incivek I'm ever so grateful that my HMO approved Vic.

Even though I was unable to finish my 28 week tx, the Vic did the trick...truly blessed to reach SVR nonetheless.

Adios Victrelis.

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"hrsetrdr"=Tim

Treatment halted on Aug.8,2012 due to vision problem.  6 month post tx labs

Aug.2013 SVR

Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious.
- Unknown

 

 
mallani


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Hi Jill,

Farewell Victrelis. You knocked me around but did the job for me. You'll still be used in many countries.

You were the first DAA to be FDA approved, and probably cost the most to develop and Trial. My 48 weeks of treatment involved 4032 tablets, costing ~ $10 per tablet.

In the USA you were comprehensively outsold by Incivek due to poor marketing by Merck, and probably only made a small profit. RIP.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Ray


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May have something to do with the overwhelming success of their new HCV drug that works in 12 weeks with zero side effects.



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Ray

G-1a, Long Term HCV (1969), Bridging Fibrosis, Started Merck C-Edge 12 Week Trial 07/14 finished 10/6/14, Beginning VL 4.2 Mil, as of Jan 09 still undetected.  Blood test every 4 weeks
Cinnamon Girl


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Here`s an extract from Merck`s recent letter to pharmacy professionals concerning the voluntary discontinuation of Victrelis by Dec 2015.

"SUBJECT: Merck Voluntarily Discontinuing VICTRELIS (boceprevir) 200 mg Capsules

Dear Pharmacy Professional: We would like to inform you that Merck has decided to voluntarily discontinue the manufacture and distribution of VICTRELIS in the United States by December 2015.  Please note that this is a business decision by Merck.

This decision is not based on any safety or efficacy findings with this product.  Due to the scientific advancement, changes in treatment practices, and the consequent reduction in the demand for VICTRELIS, Merck plans to discontinue commercial supply of VICTRELIS in the United States.  Merck remains committed to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.  

To ensure all patients currently undergoing therapy with VICTRELIS are able to complete up to 48 weeks of treatment, Merck will continue to supply VICTRELIS to wholesalers through December 2015 on an as-needed basis from existing inventories.  Remaining inventory is set to expire on December 31, 2015.  We recommend that no new patients be initiated on VICTRELIS moving forward."

Full details of letter...

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/drugs/drugsafety/drugshortages/ucm430818.pdf



__________________

Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
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