Continuous IFN infusion?

[Bill1954]

“Medtronic, a Minneapolis-based drug device company, recently announced that it has started a clinical trial to evaluate a pump that delivers a continuous infusion of interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The trial will test the same type of pump used for continuous insulin delivery for people with type 1 diabetes. Since the drug is administered continuously, the older conventional interferon can be used instead of the longer-lasting pegylated formulation.”

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/091109_a.html

[Marcia2202]

Very interesting! Thanks for posting this Bill

[Bill1954]

Hi Susan—

FlGuy posted the link to the study info above; unfortunately, this is for Tx naïve only. It looks like it’ll be held at Duke in SC; not *too* far from your neck of the woods, though.  I hope you get some good vibes from the upcoming PI’s, gal—

Bill

[susan400]

I'd be willing to be their guinea pig, where can I sign up???  After all, I've tried everything else....       They'd probably never accept me into their clinical trial though.  Because I've been having a problem with anybody accepting a 'Telaprevir failure' into any of the trials.  They will probably be like most of the trials available right now, which are primarily for naive patients first.  I don't mean to sound negative, but it's what I've come up against.  BTW, I've been off of TX now for 14 mon.

Susan400

[Proactive]

one would think this could keep a patient on a continuous, optimum dosage of interferon.
Add in a liquid form of riba and you have a one pump does all deal...Wouldn't this also eliminate compliance issues, no missed or intentionally skipped doses..toss that old (stupid) 80/80 rule right out the window!!

[Proactive]

"I wonder when this will be available.........2 or 3 years time maybe"
I think if the study trials proved successful, it should'nt take long for an approval, or it could be used off label.
The drug has already been approved.
The delivery device (pump) has already been approved.

[FlGuy]

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00919633

[Lindaz]

Sounds promising.
I wonder when this will be available.........2 or 3 years time maybe.  

Hopefully, it will have high svr rates.

[Isobella]

I would guess because it maintains the level of drug in the system better,  

From 48 weeks of experience with the peg, I've felt the peaks and valleys during the week.  Maybe maintaining the constant level during the "hit it hard when it hurts" honeymoon period will help more people get RVR.

That'd be great.  

Hopefully we'll be seeing some participants here soon.

[Bill1954]

I’m not sure it’s better tolerated, but the pegylation was designed to make the formula last longer; the old Intron A had to be injected 3 times weekly. Infusion might change the performance; I guess this study will tell us something.

This is apparently similar to insulin pump technology that supplies steady-state infusion for diabetics. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s any clear advantage to this, and whether they might integrate it into later studies with STAT-C drugs—

Bill

[ArthursMom]

Why might the continuous infusion be better? Is the older interferon better tolerated?