what is latest medication Gen 1?

[soldieradvocate]

Been waitng for Sovaldi which was supposed to be a 12 week treatment but included interferon. Now I hear there is something else available w/o interferon but will take longer. Is there something newer than Sovaldi? I am confused. Would be treated at the VA.

[gibsongal]

I have about 3 weeks to go on the S/O and doing well.
no problems with he sun. i put on sun screen and do errands a few times a week. shorts and t shirt…
I don't "lay out" have not been swimming etc, but sitting at the patio table with the umbrella is fine.

[ChrisDDD]

I've been on Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and Olysio (simeprevir) for 10 days.  I can't take interferon.  My understanding is this combo is pretty standard.  This treatment is 12 weeks, and if I haven't cleared at week 12 I can do simeprevir and the new drug ledipasvir, which is supposed to be FDA-approved this October, but it may actually be several more months before ledipasvir is available to the public.  In the past, once you finish a treatment you have to wait at least six months to start another treatment, but I won't have to at week 12 of sofosbuvir.  I would just continue on with sofosbuvir and take ledipasvir instead of simeprevir.  Everything I have said in this paragraph came straight from my hepatologist, one of the best in the country if not the world.  We have not discussed my taking sofosbuvir and ribavirin.

So far I've had mostly fatigue.  I hardly ever go outside my house because of my concern with the photosensitivity with both drugs.  I'm trying to figure out how to change that because I have cabin fever!!  I'm genotype 1a and this is my fourth attempt at treatment.  Good luck!

Chris

[bassetgirl]

I have early stage cirhossis, genotype 1a, and am being treated at a liver transplant/teaching hospital- my hepotologist thought  Sofsobuvir and Simepriver (Sovaldi and Olysio) for 12 weeks would be the best option for me . Because I have cirhossis she didn't want to wait for Sovaldi/Ledispavir which will be available near the end of the year.

I started 12 weeks of treatment  on May 8th and will finish this Wed July 30th.  I've had some fatigue, and since Olysio can make you photosensitive, I avoid going out in the sun: I wear sunblock, long sleeves, hat and sunglasses when I have to go out. This treatment has been really easy for me.

Will be tested Oct. 23, 3 months EOT, to see if the virus is  undetected, then again mid January at 6 months to see if I'm still undetected.  My hepotologist would consider that I've acheived SVR if I'm still undetected in January at the 6 month mark.

If I relapse, she says I can treat again with Sovaldi/Ledispavir, but I'm praying that the current treatment works.

Good luck to you!

[kelly55]

I'm geno 1a and am treating with sovaldi & Riba I am doing 24 weeks but that's because no interferon.  I'm in my 18th week and feel good except for tired sometimes.  Had rash in beginning but seems to have passed.  All blood work seems to be good. I wish you the best of luck no matter what you choose to do.

[soldieradvocate]

Apparently, a 12 week Sofsobuvir and Simeprevir are available to me. Are there negative side effects to this treatment? Is it effective for gen 1.?

[flyinlynn]

Hi soldier

The Sovaldi /Ledipasvir single pill combo that was submitted but has not been approved yet by the FDA (hopefully to be approved in October) was tested in clinical trials named ION-1, ION-2 & ION-3 with treatment times varying in the trials. Some were for 8 weeks, some 12 weeks & some were for 24 weeks. Some with ribavirin and some without.
Here is a link to an article from Gilead about the trials and the results for GT 1 patients with and without cirrhosis.

http://www.gilead.com/news/press-releases/2013/12/gilead-announces-svr12-rates-from-three-phase-3-studies-evaluating-a-oncedaily-fixeddose-combination-of-sofosbuvir-and-ledipasvir-for-genotype-1-hepatitis-c-patients


Good Luck
Lynn

[soldieradvocate]

genotype 1. how long does the new treatment take?

[HectorSF]

The latest recommended treatment guidelines for the treatment of hepatitis C are available here.
NOTE: This does not include drugs that are being studied in trials and not currently FDA approved for the public in the US.

AASLD and IDSA Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C

http://www.hcvguidelines.org/full-report-view

For example if you never have treated before you would choose...

INITIAL TREATMENT OF HCV INFECTION IN PATIENTS STARTING TREATMENT

Then pick your genotype and learn what treatments are recommended for your particular situation.

"Is there something newer than Sovaldi?"
Sovaldi based treatments are the recommended treatments for treating hepatitis C. Interferon based treatments are no longer recommended. There are many Sovaldi treatments. Which treatment is appropriate for yourself depends upon your genotype, own history with hepatitis C/liver disease(cirrhosis, transplant) and any treatment history.

Good luck!
Hector

[nan535]

What genotype are you? Sounds like you are GT 1.  If so, the current recommended treatment is sovaldi/interferon/ribavirin for 12 weeks.
However, in October the FDA is expected to approve a new treatment for GT 1's. It's a one pill treatment - no interferon.  Ribavirin can be added or not.
The combo pill is Sovaldi/Ledipasvir.  

Here is a link to another thread with more information:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/SYNERGY-Trial-Results---SOF-LED/show/2238367#post_10744748

If you are not GT 1, please respond with your genotype. I am sure you will get the information you need to make an informed decision.

All the best,
Nan