boceprevir trial question

I was just contacted by the NP and asked to reduce the pegasys from 180mcg to 135mcg since my WBC is 1.31 and Neutrophils .64. Any of you know if SP allows a patient to be treated with neupogen?  I know they allow and pay for procrit but I'm not sure if they "allow" neupogen.  I know they won't pay for neupogen but that's not the issue, my insurance would cover the cost.  

The study coordinator is posing the question to SP but I like to hear from us "professionals"!!!  So if any of you have read anything about neupogen and the bocep trials or have personal experience, please let me know.  

[Rockerforlife]

Yes,in my trial,RESPOND 2,i was allowed to take both of the rescue drugs and the red cell booster was free if needed,but the NUPO you have to pay for yourself.

[lacyjane67]

I too am on the boceprevir trial when my white blood cells got really low they asked me to get the neupogen, even with my ins. I could not afford the weekly shot. My white blood cells were at a .1 (point one). So they  did lower my pegalated interferon. My viral load has been undetectable since week four.

[Rockerforlife]

Its expensive stuff...400 smackers a shot

[choprchk]

Excellent!  That's kinda what I was thinking, that it is allowed, just not paid for....I'm not on the same trial as you but I think as far as the rescue drugs go, they are treated the same in all boceprevir studies.  

[newleaf09]

The recent teleprevir trial did not want rescue drugs to muddy their data but Schering's attitude has been different.  I'm in the same trial but have finished already.  They provide procrit and they do permit neupogen or neulasta.  I used neulasta, which was outrageously expensive but lasted several weeks.  I believe neupogen lasts about a week.  Neulasta is the same drug as neupogen (filgrastim) but is pegylated to keep it working on the bone marrow longer.  Insurance paid for mine with a $100 co-pay.

I cleared early and kept getting my peginterferon reduced for low platelets.  I was freaked out at first to be dose-reduced.  I remained clear regardless of the reduction and the study team did not seem to think it was a big deal.  They were pretty worked up over keeping the riba up to full dose.  I figured it out and I was on reduced interferon for about 2/3 of TX.  I think my system was so primed that the reduced dose did me no harm.  Still clear 12 wks. after EOT.

[choprchk]

und since wk4, that's excellent too!!  and you reduced the peg when?  and your last pcr was when?  

[Rockerforlife]

So what PI did ya do?

[choprchk]

Due to being a 3 time non-responder(1 time viral breakthrough) AND dose reducing both tx drugs all three times, I tend to freak out!  On this boceprevir, I cleared at wk2 after starting the boceprevir, so it might be okay to dose reduce but my luck in the past has not been good!  Great to hear that you are still UND!!!!  yeah PIs!!!

[newleaf09]

You remember.  I am in the boceprevir for naives (SPRINT 2).  I was the one who cleared the first week on the SOC and randomized out after 28 weeks, thank heavens.  So lucky I have been wasting my life by not buying lottery tickets all these years.  You got out of yours early too (36 wks.), didn't you?

[can-do-man]

One must remember these PI's are a one time shot, ONLY as a last resort would my doctor dose reduce and he is quite familar with boceprevir........Good luck

[Rockerforlife]

Yes,they hit the brakes on me at wk 36,thats only 32 weeks oF the blue bombers and 4 weeks with SOC,i wanted to go the whole 9 yards but was chosen to halt.
NEWLEAF...dont forget in the BOC trials phase 2 they chose some hard to treat patients too.african americans,some with cirossis and all geno 1...and still 75% SRV...if you clear at week 4...it a home run...almost...im still boosting my body with mushroom extracts and algae after TX...BTW...before TX  was doing them too....im doing sonething right..and my BP is now normal and i feel like i dint even do any TX...except t  for all the BS

[Rockerforlife]

Im not sure if they are a one time deal if you dont have mutation,you can also do another type of PI...its a promease inhibitor i think

[Rockerforlife]

Im a Guinea pig and proud of it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LrTtWjOSwI

[lacyjane67]

they reduced my peg around 23 weeks i believe. And the pcr i am not sure what you are asking. I have had to stop the riba twice the second time was just this week. I am currently not taking the riba and have just taken shot 46 of 48, I am hoping not taking the riba now will not effect my tx now so late in the game. Yes I thought undetectable at 4 weeks was awsome! That has been what has kept me going through this tx. I have geno type 1b