Clinical Trail Mertz MK-5172 & MK-8742 with & without Ribovirin

Question

I'm being considered for a Phase 2 clinical trial from Mertz, in which they give all participants two drugs, which are MK-5172 & MK-8742, with some participants also getting Riboviron, but others a Placebo. Has anyone participated in this study or does anyone know anything about it. There are several trials I'm looking into, but I don't know how to research the best one for me. I found out just three months ago that I have Hep C, stage 2. If anyone can reply, I would be so grateful.

teschoa · Answer

Hi Cheese,
I am in the current Merck study that has arms with cirrhosis and null responders/relapsers.  I think it has an arm with HIV also.  I was treatment naïve with cirrhosis going into this study.  I am 79 years old, geno 1a, diagnosed 1999.  Had "liver disease"  since the early 60's.  Go for my week 8 labs today. Weeks 1 and 2  <25 viral load.  Week 4  UND. I am taking the study meds plus ribavirin.   I sure hope the results remain as good !!!!   I'll post my week 8 results when I get them.  I won't know until week 12 if I stop then or go on to 18 weeks. Whatever the results in the current study, I am sure the SVR rate will be better than current treatment for Genotype 1's and it is free and shorter term with few side effects.  I felt my time to treat was sort of running out so I went for the opportunity.  I have hope of being SVR before my 80th birthday--BUT nothing is guaranteed and I am aware of that.  

I am very impressed with the results presented at the liver conference for several drug companies.  Gilead refused me for an earlier study as I have cirrhosis. I feel very, very fortunate to have been accepted into a study.  

Teschoa

Cheesegrater · Answer

teschoa,

I am surprised a protease and NS5A could work so well in genotype 1a. Thanks for the info, I looked it up.
 I remember a previous study, with a protease and NS5A that did not do so well with just the two drugs (BMS compounds). The recent Merck study results (interim results) are amazing, hard to believe the drugs are in the same class as the BMS drugs. It should be pointed out that the results I saw were for the C-Worthy study, and it seems to me they only used treatment naive patients. I wonder if the results will look as good when tested against relapsers and non-responder genotype 1a/1b.

Cheese

teschoa · Answer

I sure hope you took the Merck trial in the Spring.  Two arms had 100% SVR and the other 98% SVR.  Results were just given Nov 2nd at the ASSLD conference.  I am in week 9 of that trial--was UND at end of week 4.  I go for my end of week 8 labs tomorrow.  Great trial!!
SuziQ

HopefulSpirit · Answer

Thank you so much for your input.

HopefulSpirit · Answer

Thank you so much for your help & suggestions.

pooh55811 · Answer

"I do not know if he will try to convince me to go for one study over the other.   If so, is it because he would be looking out for my best interst, or because he needs to fill the slots of the less desireable study?  "
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I don't know this particular doctor or his motives, but I would not count on him necessarily looking out for my best interests when he is heading up two trials and one trial attracts more people than the other. I would not count on him looking out for my best interests anyway, but especially in this situation. If it was me, I would not allow him to try to convince me one way or the other. I would do my own research (as you are doing) and then pick the trial that I thought gave me the best chance at cure (SVR). 

I agree with Hrsepwrguy that, if it was me, I would try to get into the other trial (the one is Phase 3) in your other thread.

HopefulSpirit · Answer

Hello,
Thank you so much for your reply.  I agree with you, that the other study, which is in Phase 3, sounds better.  Both of these trails will be conducted by the same doctor  & I do not know if he will try to convince me to go for one study over the other.   If so, is it because he would be looking out for my best interst, or because he needs to fill the slots of the less desireable study?  I do not know how this works when one doctor has two trials.  Since I meet the criteria  Any thoughts?
Thanks again.

hrsepwrguy · Answer

Follow the link

Guide to Understanding Clinical Trials and Medical Research in Hepatitis C

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/community/Clinical_Trials.htm


Link to trial info

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01717326?term=hepatitisc&cond=%22HepatitisCVirus%22

"MK-5172 & MK-8742"

There is not much info out there on how well the drugs work, I can't find anything from the phase 1 trials, if it were me and this is just IMO, since these drugs are only at the start phase 2 trials and not much info to be found, I would skip this trial, however the trial you mention in your other thread would be the one I would try to get into.