Retreatment

[neeter200]

Does anyone know the future for retreatment of Hep C?  My husband relapsed six months post treatment with interferon and ribavirin and he had totally cleared the virus with treatment.He is genotype 1. I have been hearing there is a retreatment for relapsers on the way...any word yet?

[neeter200]

His fibrosis was stated as bridging fibrosis and this was done in 2003. The bloodwork that was done last year stated mild cirrhosis.  My husband wanted me to ask you if retreatment with the Peg-Intron/Riba was as hard physically as the Pegasys?  He does construction work and doesn't feel he could do 96wks of retreatment.  That is why we are so hoping that the protease tx would not include interferon. How hard is it to receive disability for Hep C? He tells me that he will not appy,unless he has to crawl out the door to go to work, but I can just see in his face that he is fading fast. It has been so difficult,especially since my MS diagnosis last April. Sorry to unload on you,but we both have worked so hard all our lives and now having to deal with both of us having uncurable diseases. We are just trying to trust in the LORD for better days.

[Bill1954]

I had genotype 1 as well. I did 56 weeks of interferon/riba and relapsed; this isn’t unusual; roughly 50% of patients won’t treat successfully. The first treatment was with Pegasys, by the way.

Second time around, I used Peg-intron, and treated for an extended period; this time I was successful. The virus has been gone now for over 18 months, and is not expected to return.

Yes; the new drugs will be used *in conjunction* with IFN/riba; they should increase the efficacy to roughly 75-80%, and might reduce the treatment duration as well. AT lest they have in some patient populations in clinical trial.

Look for these to be released sometime in 2011; I was told this by my hepatologist at my last appointment in December. This info concurs with the press releases by the pharma companies as well.

Can you clarify whether he has fibrosis or cirrhosis? People develop fibrosis, and as it advances, it can become cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs at stage 4 fibrosis; if he’s currently cirrhotic, he might not want to wait, and begin another round of treatment sooner than 2011.

Good luck to both of you—

Bill

[neeter200]

He is Genotype 1 and does have some fibrosis. He had the bloodwork for cirrhosis last year and the results stated mild cirrhosis. I work with a GI doctor that doesn't place much stock in the bloodwork,thinks he should have another liver biopsy since it's been several years since the last one. But his GI doc states "we know he has liver damage and there's no reason to repeat another liver bx. Hopefully these protease inhibitors will be promising! But are you saying a relapser will have to repeat the interferon and ribavirin also?

[Bill1954]

Hi Neeter,
There is a new class of HCV drugs in late-phase clinical trial right now known as ‘protease inhibitors’.

They will be used in conjunction with the interferon and ribavirin; the two closest to release are ‘Telaprevir’, and ‘Boceprevir’.

What genotype is your husband? Does he have significant fibrosis?

Welcome to the discussion group—

Bill