Dragonslayer45's R7128 3 month post results

To all who know me, I would like to apologize for not posting in a while. Since the time that treatment ended I have been so busy I have not been back to keep up. I was and am not a treat and run guy....not intentionally anyway.

For those that are new or do not know me here is a little background. I was a geno 1a, with a very high VL, stage 2 grade 2, having the virus for 25+ years?. After finding out I had the virus, I did like most and began to learn all I could about Hep C. I made the decision to wait on treatment as I was not crazy about the odds of peg/riba treatment on geno 1's and I was leary of the sie effects. As the years rolled on I began feeling the virus' presence more and more. I was getting beginning to feel like **** more and more and was getting a lot of aches and pains. Joints began to hurt more and was getting more and more tired.

I had looked at several trials (telaprivir, NM283, and others) that I came close to participating in. All of them had one thing or another that I was not comfortable with. I then found out about R7128. The more i learned about it the more I became comfortable with it. I finally decided that this was the trial I would participate in.

R7128 is a polymerase inhibitor. I was part of the phase 1 trial and took the R7128 for 4 weeks along with Pegasys and Ribavarin. From Week 5 until week week 48 I took only the peg and riba.

I cleared the virus at week 4 and stayed clear all the way through. As the trail went on the peg and riba really began to kick my butt. I ended up by end of treatment being put on Lexapro (AD), Zanax, Ambien, for my mood and insomnia. I was also put on Tricor because my cholesterol level went to 600. All of this was due to the interferon. I resisted taking any of these drugs but finally had to because the sides were tough. I also became anemic (low RBC, Hemoglobin, Hemocrit), had low platelets, and low WBC count. All of this is pretty common with treatment. I stuck with it and went the distance.  It was a tough ride but I rode it out. I ended up being on Temporary disability for the last 26 weeks of treatment.

I am happy to say that at the 3 month post treatment mark I am still UND and all of my blood levels are back to normal. I feel good and I am back to a fairly normal life. I returned to work and have been busy all summer with the family, I have not had a chance to post or anything I have been so busy. I just returned from a family vacations (that was totally awesome). I jsut wated to post and let people know that I am doing well and still clear.

I use my lunch breaks to go to the gym (at my work) everyday. I eat healthy, take my vitamins and supplements, drink my water regularly. if there is one thing I learned is not to take my health for granted anymore. After the hell this treatment puts you through I am determined to do anything I can to come back better than ever. So far so good. It has been a slow recovery from the chemical cocktails of treatment but I can definitely say I am doing so much better.

I also would like to let people that are currently treating to hang in there and stay the course no matter how hard it may seem. If you need advice this is the right place to come and if you need to take "other drugs" to make it through then do it. The most important part is to stay the course. There really is light at the end of the tunnel and life after treatment. I will try not to be a stranger around here but I can not promise I will post regularly. I am so busy at work and at home it is tough to get online. Take care and here is to wishing all of you the best in your treatments.

[alagirl]

congratulations and good for you on your 3 mos post testing!

[jacksonblue]

congratulations on your new free dom best wishes

[smaug48]

Great to hear the good news from you, Dragonslayer! You are almost home free

[Kristina538]

Nice post DS, and wonderful to hear of your results, your recoup and your holiday!!!  I'm so glad the hard work paid dividends;  congrats - it's sounding really really good for you!!

[charm27]

Great to hear your wonderful results. Thanks for posting and letting us know your progress.

Congratulations! Great news!
Feel well.


Charm27

[IMstacie]

Congrats and thanks for posting post-tx details.  

[mikesimon]

Congratulations on your great news!
It's wonderful to see you clear after seeing your name and reading your posts for so long.
Your story is inspiring.
Stay well,
Mike

[jdwithhcv]

COngruatulations, and wishing you more of the same!

jd

[annieCinMD]

First off, great to hear your good news! Second...very interesting. I think you are the first person I've seen that is on a polymerase inhibitor. I just stopped early on a protease inhibitor study (I completed the 12 weeks of study drug after crossing over from the control arm with not so good results on SOC), and when I was contemplating my decision, I asked the doctor about retreating should I need to. He said never again on protease inhibitor, but polymerase inhibitor is different, so it could work. Phase I trial? I think I remember seeing something in Clinical Care's reports about the study you were on. Very interested in following your results and hoping they continue to be good ones!

[pilgrim1951]

Glad to hear you are doing so well and want to thank your for exchanging emails a while back.  As you may recall, we share the same Dr. in Philly and both agreed he is one of the good guys in the field besides being an excellent doctor.  I finished my 48 weeks on June 18th and so far am still UND, feeling much better, and anxious for my 12 week study visit next month.  Thanks again for the update and the encouragement to the forum.  

[DragonSlayer45]

thanks for the well wishes.

[DragonSlayer45]

The polymerase inhibitor I was on, R7128, is now recruiting (or maybe already in) Phase II trials. From what I read they are going to be doing a few different dose levels and shortening the Peg and riba to 24 weeks in some arms. I don't have it in front of me but it was something like that. I personally feel the 24 week will work well. I cleared as do most by week 4. This drug has had a 85+% clearance rate in early trials for geno 1's which is tremendous. Shortening the treatment to 24 weeks will be nice as you don't have to endure the peg for too long.

I have not seem any SVR data yet but I am sure it will be out by te next AASLD meeting (Boston). The other thing I might mention is the drug itself has no side effects. All of the sides are from  the peg and riba.

[annieCinMD]

Wow, it sounds like the polymerase inhibitors are even better than the protease inhibitors. I kind of thought they would be the next big thing. I hope I don't ever have to personally find out! I'm hoping the protease inhibitor I just opted myself out of at week 28 will do the trick. I think the shorter treatments will do just fine, too. I think the longer treatments run the risk of permanent sides, and was willing to be the guinea pig for hitting it with the PI on the back end, instead of the front. 85% for 1s, Wow!

[kickboxingmom]

Awesome news.Thanks for all the info in the past.You'll come by now and then.The door I'm sure will always be open.Go make memories with your life, family.Congratulations on everything you've been through.   T.