Looks like I'm being invited to the dance - Phase 2 Study of Telaprevir (VX-950), Pegasys and Copegus in Hepatitis C

[miked]

Yesterday I heard from my doctor that they are trying to enroll me in the Phase 2 VX-950 trial, which is great news and something I've been asking for.

My dilema is that I'm absolutely swamped with commitments from work, church and family...more than usual.  I'd like to hear from the VX-950 people here on the board just how crappy they feel and if they are working effectively.  I own a business with a high profile role that require much travel.  

On my last tx with Peg-Intron and RBV I felt pretty worn down after 8 months.  I'm certain that I could take 3-6 months of this but would only do a year again if my health forced it.

My background is 49 year old male, contracted HCV about 25 years ago; geno 1b; Stage 1/Grade 0; started tx with 3M VL; no EVR but did get a 4log drop at week 2; eventually dropped to 9,600 but started to rise around month 8; game over.  Other that HCV and some newly found arthritis I'm in great shape and run 15-20 miles per week.

So, I really have a few questions that you guys could help me with:

1.) VX-950 people...how crappy do you feel?
2.) Who's done both Pegasys and Peg-Intron.  Which made you feel crappier?
3.) Given my stats, would you jump on the wagon now or wait to see if they can dial this tx down to 3 months, which I could do standing on my head.

Thanks,

Mike

[GrandOak]

I don't understand how someone who is not tx naive can be enrolled in Phase 2 as I understood that to be a requirement for the PROVE2 trials. Also, are not most of the PROVE2 trials nearing completion?

Are you sure that it's the phase 2 trials, or could it be the PROVE3 trials which are now starting which I understand is targeted at nonresponders and relapsers?

[jmjm530]

Vertex prices have tripled in only two years.

The recent decline could simply be profit taking, i.e. buy on the rumor (expectation), sell on the news (the drug is working, hopefully). That said, I know nothing about investing to take this analysis for what it is :)

-- Jim

[bobbyullc]

i am svr now but if i could have waited i would have stage 3-3 and waited for 9 years. one year on the couch and now lingering fatigue from tx. at stage 1-0 with hcv for 29 years you will most likely die of old age before ever getting any symptoms. i forsee vx and others revolutionizing tx. shorter more success and hopefully someday a mono therapy.
your  sides will be the same as before(and maybe worse) as you are just adding one drug to the old stuff.

the results are sooooo close what can it hurt to wait 1 or 2 years to see. why take a year from your life needlessly?

[jmjm530]

Bobby: your sides will [most probably] be the same as before(and maybe worse) as you are just adding one drug to the old stuff.
----------------------------------------------
Well said and I think I'll steal that line from now on :)

Words in [    ] mine.


-- Jim

[bobbyullc]

i know i sound like a broken record but i just hate to see so many go through this now when new tx is so close.
if i had bad sides the first time stage 1 and could wait many more years i NEVER would have tx,d.
if i could go back and wait even today i would. if i knew that vx was so close even at 3-3 i may have waited.
hope your helth is improving.
bobby

[jmjm530]

I agree. But even if Vertex turns out not to work, I still would advise people who can afford to wait to do so. I didn't know anything about Vertex -- didn't exist back then -- but still waited as long as I could. Like you say, it's like adding one bad thing on top of another. Do it only if you have to.

-- Jim