Vertex treatment

Went for my post liver biopsy follow up at my Hep clinic, talked to my nurse practitioner got a nice blue bag from pegatron filled with loads of info and med stuff. I found out they are doing a Protease inhibitor research with Vertex telaprevir and being 1a I qualify, so that means peagasys, interferon, ribavirin and Vertex starting in 2 weeks any advice would be helpful.

[web52-1]

congratulations!  i'm also a 1a. i was in the prove 1 trial (finished my last riba a week ago). i was in the group that got the vx950 for 12 weeks along with inf and riba, then 36 additional weeks of soc (i was und by day 21). i never treated before this, but some who have posted that  the vertex drug exacerbates the regular soc sx. there is also a rash that about a third of patients get. i think about 9 percent had to discontinue because of this. there are also gi sx. the sx were rough on me but i made it through. the sx were the worst for the first 16 weeks or so. started improving significantly around week 28. still not feeling very well one week post tx though. my suggestion is to do it. keep in close contact with your doc and study coordinator. there are permissible drugs to tx the sx as they arise. my team was super super great with this and i'm sure yours will be too.  keep us posted on your tx journey and best of luck to you.  

  

[Libzo]

Congratulations on finding an up and running Vertex trial.  I am looking at the letter Vertex Pharmaceuticals sent to me dated July 5th, 2007 in response to my quiery stating their PROVE1 and PROVE 2 trials targeting naive gen 1 were completed.  PROVE3 trial started early 2007, is targeting gen 1 non responders to prior soc.  Is that where you fit in?  

I wish you good luck.  I was hoping to catch a ride on that train but heard about it too late.  I had my first shot last Friday using another trial studying Albuferon with Riba.  Coincidentally, that first shot day (that was a long time coming) was also the last day to enter.  I lucked out.  Pheww

I am so elated to finally kick some dragon asss!  Feeling rather proactive.  Hard first night but what good fight isn't?  Determination vs virus - right?  

Libzo

[Libzo]

I tip my hat to you - Thanks for paving the way.  So many warriors, battle by battle, giving their all for a better day.  UND sure sounds sweet.  Continued improved health to you.  Libzo

[Andiamo1]

I am currently in the prove 3 trial.  It is a blinded trial and you will be randomized into one of the arms.  There is a 25% chance you will get a placebo.

In general, the side effects are similar to the standard treatment with nausea being much worse with the vertex drug in my case.

Good luck to you and keep us posted.

[toughluck]

How do you know you are getting Vertex not a placebo?

[FullOfHope77]

Congrats dude you're UND or you would be out! I am now convinced that to go forward that you need to be UND if you get to continue... too many clues seem to line up and VXMan has done a good job of pulling of lot of the empiracal data together to conclude that. The only scenario that could let someone continue and not be clear is ARM A as the control arm to measure against as they will get another protocol later to 'roll over' too. So I'm going to go forward with a lot of confidence believing that all is well and we're UND or will be during the roll over. Now.... SVR is next!!! :)

[glucklich]

I am in the trial. I am pretty sure that I have the vx based on the reactions I am having . Good ones include dramatically better liver panel and bad ones include itch ( more than last tx) and a malaise that occurs about 1 hours after i take the little fellas and lasts for about 2 hours.

I wish i knew for sure though. It is a pain in the *** more than the sides induce not to know if I have gone UND  as last time the best I ever achieved after 6 months was a 1.16 log drop.

i am very hopeful today, so much so that I preserver in the face of increasingly difficult reactions to this lovely cocktail of life.

[glucklich]

Hi,

I can well relate to your comments about cognitive drop with HCV.

Serendipitously mine returned momentarily when I started the trial. may be a sign that I had VX or just another little joke from above.

[Forseegood]

don't have time to read this entire thread, do you mean the vertex for non naive patients? thanks!

[dyce]

Looks as tho yur luck is improving.

[Forseegood]

Just wanted to say HI Dyce!

[dyce]

Hello foresee, gotta go to work .cya