Aa
Hope is a wonderful thing! This news made my day
Vertex hep C drug helps tough to treat patients 57 pct prior null responders achieve SVR on telaprevir
* 90 pct prior relapsers achieve SVR on telaprevir
NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc's (VRTX.O) closely watched hepatitis C drug telaprevir knocked out the virus in a significant number of patients who had failed to respond to standard treatments or relapsed after taking the standard drugs, according to a small study.
Interim results from an ongoing study, released on Wednesday, showed 57 percent of patients who failed to respond to the standard treatments of pegylated-interferon and ribavirin, and 90 percent of those who responded but later relapsed, achieved a sustained viral response when telaprevir was added to their regimen.
The percentage of patients in whom the virus is undetectable after completing treatment yields the critical measure known as sustained viral response, or SVR.
"Ninety percent in prior relapsers is very impressive and suggests that the rate in naive (previously untreated) patients could move up to the 75-80 percent range," said Sanford Bernstein analyst Geoffrey Porges.
"The 57 percent SVR rate in prior null responders is also remarkable. By comparison such patients today have no possibility of an SVR with current therapy," Porges added.
* 90 pct prior relapsers achieve SVR on telaprevir
NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc's (VRTX.O) closely watched hepatitis C drug telaprevir knocked out the virus in a significant number of patients who had failed to respond to standard treatments or relapsed after taking the standard drugs, according to a small study.
Interim results from an ongoing study, released on Wednesday, showed 57 percent of patients who failed to respond to the standard treatments of pegylated-interferon and ribavirin, and 90 percent of those who responded but later relapsed, achieved a sustained viral response when telaprevir was added to their regimen.
The percentage of patients in whom the virus is undetectable after completing treatment yields the critical measure known as sustained viral response, or SVR.
"Ninety percent in prior relapsers is very impressive and suggests that the rate in naive (previously untreated) patients could move up to the 75-80 percent range," said Sanford Bernstein analyst Geoffrey Porges.
"The 57 percent SVR rate in prior null responders is also remarkable. By comparison such patients today have no possibility of an SVR with current therapy," Porges added.
but again, i would like to see the breakdown by length of treatment as well. they lump 12/24 and 12/48 together.
Here's the numbers:Patient Type TVR regimen SVR Viral Relapse Rates
Prior Null Responders* T12 + PR 48 (n=28) 57% (16/28) 20% (4/20)
Prior Partial Responders** T12 + PR24 (n=25) or
T12 + PR48 (n=3) or Unassigned (n=1)
55% (16/29) 22% (5/23)
Prior Relapsers+ T12 + PR24 (n= 25) or
T12 + PR48 (n=3) or
Unassigned (n=1)
90% (26/29) 4% (1/28)
Prior Viral Breakthrough± T12 + PR24 (n=7) or
T12 + PR48 (n=1)
75% (6/8) 0 (0/6)
Prior Null Responders* T12 + PR 48 (n=28) 57% (16/28) 20% (4/20)
Prior Partial Responders** T12 + PR24 (n=25) or
T12 + PR48 (n=3) or Unassigned (n=1)
55% (16/29) 22% (5/23)
Prior Relapsers+ T12 + PR24 (n= 25) or
T12 + PR48 (n=3) or
Unassigned (n=1)
90% (26/29) 4% (1/28)
Prior Viral Breakthrough± T12 + PR24 (n=7) or
T12 + PR48 (n=1)
75% (6/8) 0 (0/6)
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