Merck 5172-068 Reclassified as "breakthrough" tx

[mac790]

Hey All, The clinical trial I participated in "Merck 5172-068" was a combo of two drugs in one pill. 100 mg. of Grazoprevir, and 50 mg. of Elbasvir. I had a viral titer of 585,000+ IU/ml before tx, dropped to 396 IU/ml in 7 days, by week 3, " $100K. Here is the link:
http://www.healio.com/hepatology/hepatitis-c/news/online/%7B9a1b0106-c598-4a2f-83d2-11419d9fa981%7D/fda-grants-new-breakthrough-therapy-designations-for-grazoprevirelbasvir?sc_trk=internalsearch
                                                                                                                                        mac  

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

Excellent news.

[susan400]

Love to hear that!

[mac790]

This got truncated, but you get the point. I really want to read the finished trial presentation, because I think it is effective against all GTs but 3. It came none too soon for me, I was on my last bit of healthy liver, and the costs of the currently available meds, even with foundation help, was a non starter. The high SVR rate, >12 weeks of tx, with and w/o cirrhosis, is >96%, with a relapse rate of 1%. If Merck ever gets around to making it available, I hope they don't stick to their "MSRP" of $100K for a total of (84) pills. I was so fortunate to find my way into that trial, they even expect some regeneration of fibrotic tissue, so I will be monitored for that for the next two years, as well as viral titers. The lower limb edema seems to be getting less pronounced, so perhaps the liver is actually doing a bit of self healing. I'm still only 5.5 months >EOT, so the game is still young. This upcoming viral titer on 4-14, if TND, is when I will break out the party favors.    mac790