For those that don't know, I have been a part of the clinical trial for TDF vs TAF.. I have been on this trial for 7 years. The trial started in 2014 for me before I was officially switched to TAF permanently for 5 years. The trial has now officially ended after 7 years time. I am truly blessed that I was able to partake in this for so long. For those who don't know about it, you can read up more on my latest situations here:
https://
www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-B/Tonight-I-officially-start-TAF---Ill-put-all-my-results-here/show/2843657
First off I want to thank all the great doctors and clinical trial nurses who have been helping me along the way with through. Without them, I may not be alive today or at least not steered in the right direction. Now that the trial has ended, I have had a choice to make.. stay on TAF which I need to go through insurance *or* partake in the recent clinical trial of AB-729-201.
Here is the most recent article I was able to find on the study: https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/06/29/2254589/14025/en/Arbutus-Biopharma-and-Antios-Therapeutics-Announce-Clinical-Collaboration-Agreement-to-Evaluate-AB-729-in-Combination-with-ATI-2173-in-Subjects-with-Chronic-Hepatitis-B-Virus-Infec.html
The doctor did tell me that it would be TAF/Vemlidy combined with this new drug and after a certain amount of weeks, they throw interferon treatment on it. My concern here is the interferon treatment. My HbSAG quantitative (I was told) was just above 400 and they suggested I'd be a great candidate for this study. Naturally, I'm worried about side effects of interferon.
On the other hand, I'm starting to not believe that it will be TAF/Vemlidy but I may be switched back to TDF/Viread, something I do not want to go back on as I felt it was too potent for me.I'm reading the literature and this article and there's no guarantee on what I'll be taking. They said it would be likely a short trial, with the interferon being 12 or 24 weeks (depending where I fall or what happens). The goal is to reduce by HbSAG even more to almost nothing and hope I develop antibodies through the process, something they have been struggling to get patients to do.
That being said, for the moment, I've decided to stick with TAF/Vemlidy but I want to see if anyone has any opinions on this. The facility I go to is one of the only 12 facilities in the country here that is doing this trial, so it's very limited. Naturally, I'm not sure how much I want to put myself through but if it gives me a chance to completely clear Chronic Hepatitis B, maybe the risk is worth the reward?
I'll share my latest results when I have them in the last thread I made as one of my last posts there, but if anyone can guide me, I'd be all ears. At the moment, I get 3 months of TAF from my insurance before I have to refill it. I think cost is actually a factor as well, because if my co-pay is gigantic then my choice becomes more obvious. I would honestly like to try and clear this naturally first, but I know that is difficult, though I am getting closer by the day! Figured I'd share with all since I've been so quiet here. God Bless all of you and thank you all for the major support over these past 7 years. I don't think I get through this without any of you as well!