resistance

Hello, do I understand that if you have undergone the original alpha-interfuron and ribaviron that the new Stat C is resistant to work

[HectorSF]

No.
The new STAT-C meds can be used in combination with SOC drugs (peginterferon & ribavirin) for those who previously failed SOC treatment and want to try again to achieve SVR. These patients will have a better chance of SVR with the new meds.


Hectorsf

[carol411]

That's not the way I understand it.  For people who did not clear on the standard treatment, the new drugs, when released, are supposed to be added with the interferon and ribaviron for the first part of treatment and knock the virus down, then interferon and ribaviron are continued for the rest of the treatment to ensure every one of the little bu&&ers is gone.  This offers a lot of hope for those who had no luck with just interferon and riba.  If I've got this all wrong, I'm sure someone will chime in and straighten us out.--Carol

[carol411]

Oh good, Hector answered.  He has a lot more knowledge than I.

[Trish77]

If you've undergone treatment previously with SOC (Standard Of Care) drugs and it hasn't worked, the new STAT-C meds offer a different kind of firepower that can improve upon SOC - trials have shown they produce superior results when combining a STAT-C drug with SOC.  

You can develop resistance to a STAT-C drug however.  So when someone is choosing a trial with a STAT-C drug involved, you want to choose with care - the same will apply when undergoing treatment with a STAT-C drug when they finally get to market.  You want a doctor/treatment team who understands the issues and you'll want to understand them yourself so that your first attempt with a STAT-C drug is as hopefully your last.  It gets more challenging after that as you have to mix and match resistance profiles.  Just the same, there are a number of drugs with different resistance profiles in trials and much reason to have hope for better and more effective treatments in the years ahead.

Trish