How do we put pressure on Gilead/Bristol??

[UKgirl55]

That's my question because this just makes me sick!

http://hepatitiscresearchandnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2012/04/gilead-bristol-put-profits-ahead-of.html

[Willy50]

Here is another brief discussion of what Adam Feuerstein was writing about;

http://seekingalpha.com/article/510971-gilead-hepatitis-upside-may-be-limited?source=yahoo

[Willy50]

This is one thing that will provide pressure on Gilead; other collaborations with very strong compounds;

http://www.natap.org/2012/HCV/041812_01.htm

HUDDINGE, Sweden, Apr 18, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Regulatory News: -- Expanded clinical study program evaluating a combination of TMC435 and daclatasvir (BMS-790052)
(visit the link for the complete article)
===================================

It's a little off topic but a good read and germane to this discussion.  My point is that with all the compounds out there other alliances will probably be made.

Here's another.  Vertex doesn't need to partner since it has a collaborator with nukes;

Vertex;
http://investors.vrtx.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=665491

Vertex to Begin Enrollment in a Phase 2 Study of its Most Advanced All-Oral Regimen

"In the coming weeks, Vertex will begin enrollment in a Phase 2b study evaluating combination regimens of INCIVEK, VX-222 and ribavirin. The study will evaluate total treatment durations as short as 12 weeks in people with genotype 1 (1a and 1b) hepatitis C who are new to treatment and will not use response-guided treatment criteria. If successful, Vertex plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for its first all-oral regimen as early as the end of 2014.

Vertex recently announced interim data from the two all-oral treatment arms of the ongoing Phase 2a ZENITH study that is evaluating VX-222 in combination with INCIVEK and ribavirin in people with genotype 1a or 1b hepatitis C who were new to treatment. As previously announced, viral loads were undetectable ( < 25 IU/mL) for 83 percent (38/46) of patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C at week 12. Nine of the 11 patients eligible to stop all treatment at 12 weeks achieved SVR4 (undetectable hepatitis C virus four weeks after the end of all treatment).

The three-drug regimen was generally well tolerated. The majority of adverse events were reported as mild. There were no cases of moderate or severe rash and no discontinuations due to rash or anemia in the interferon-free study arms. There were two discontinuations due to adverse events in the genotype 1b arm of the study. Additional data from this study will be presented at the 14th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease in Shanghai, China, June 22 to 25, 2012.

Nucleotide Polymerase Inhibitor Data Expected in the Second Quarter

Vertex and its collaborator Alios BioPharma are conducting seven-day viral kinetic studies of two potent, pan-genotypic, structurally distinct nucleotide polymerase inhibitors, known as ALS-2200 and ALS-2158. The first data from these studies are expected in the second quarter of 2012. Based on data from these studies, Vertex plans to begin Phase 2 studies in the second half of 2012 to evaluate combination regimens of ALS-2200 or ALS-2158 with INCIVEK or VX-222 with or without ribavirin, as well as potential dual nucleotide regimens and other interferon-free combination regimens."
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My feeling is the strength of other compounds and collaborations will provide more pressure than people can.  Gilead owns the compound; if they want they can sit on it. However, the desire to earn back some of the 11 billion may provide the desire to partner with other pharmas.  We will have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

willy

[Willy50]

Folks, 7977 is probably a best in class compound, but it is not the only one, nor is it one of the only combination that can work.  

There is a lot to figure out; what works on which genotype or sub-genotype (1a vrs 1b, for instance),

What is required to provide a high cure rate for TT genetic markers; ie, you may not need the "best in class" for CC's

What combination may work best for non or null responders, versus past relapsers.  Current triple therapy may cure about 90% of relapsers.

What treatment may be the best for people near decompensation?  Perhaps several compounds with riba will be effective in curing many advanced liver disease patients.

GS-7977 is NOT the only game in town.  There will be other compounds and other treatment strategies.  If they restrict it's use, either with it's partnering or in it's pricing there will be another similar treatment which will exploit it's exclusivity.  Right now the Abbott treatment seems to have more drugs, but it has comparable efficacy and the same 12 week treatment time, and no interferon.  Vertex also has a 3 drug treatment (VX-222, Incivek and RBV) that is efficacious.  There are other drug companies, other effective compounds.

It's still early.  There will be more trial presentations and more analysis.  the entire scientific community will better understand how to treat us effectively.  Think of antibiotics; one may not need to use the strongest out there to cure an ailment.  Most of us will be fine regardless of what Gilead does.  Their decision on how they will use that lead compound will certainly impact some of us though, perhaps.

willy

[rivll]

Too bad we can't picket their offices...
This is really a question, not a presumption so don't anyone bite my head off, please. Have null and partial responders been tested with 7977 and Riba? Has anyone said whether that pair (7977& Riba) is comparable to 7977 and BMS?

[candyce1953]

A petition perhaps.?
I really wanted to do that phase 3 trial

[orphanedhawk]

Sigh !

I recall reading about  similar items AIDs years ago.
French researchers and Americans would not share information.

This situation is far from new, whether it is pharmas refusing to deal with each other for profits or scientists refusing to work with each other because of wanting to be the 'first' one to discover a cure.
( I read a book about the bubonic plague which dealt with this issue)

The only thing that seems to work is a massive publicity campaign but with hepC still being the silent epidemic, I don't know what can be done.