Telaprevir, Boceprevir ... Should I TX?

[GreatBird]

Hi All,

It's been an eon since I asked a question here (at least a year--or maybe several), but this is how it stands. I just got the results back from the biopsy I had done last week. It shows absolutely no change (grade and stage wise) since the last biopsy I had in 2002, almost exactly six years ago. (I am a grade 1, stage 2). I have geno 1b. Usually a low-ish VL (under 1mil) and no symptoms (every time I think it's the hep it turns out to be something like menopause or Vit D deficiency or the like). I think I've been infected for almost 50 years (since I was six or seven).

As a TX naive patient, I have been asked to participate in the Boceprevir study. I am very interested in doing this because I have the time with relatively few commitments and the chances of clearance are finally good enough that it's very tempting. I'm also not getting any younger, and am currently insured (even though I got laid off from a job in July). (Not that I need insurance for the study, but it makes me feel more secure about the whole thing.)

So, one of my questions is: is there any advantage of Telaprevir over Boceprevir?

From the little information I've found, it sounds like Boceprevir has fewer sides and they both seem to be enough of a "magic pill" to make the SOC actually work (at least more of the time). My understanding of the Boceprevir trial is that of the three arms, if I end up on the non-PI arm and officially don't clear, at that point they would give me the PI.

I'm looking to the wise and knowledgeable folk on this board to let me know what they think. Should I? Shouldn't I? Is there an advantage to waiting any longer? I've always been adamant about waiting (a looong time ago I got into some rather rough words with folks on this board because my stance was so unpopular), and felt a definite advantage at not messing with my strain of HCV and immune system. So now it's somewhat weird to be standing at the starting line, and I'm a bit uncertain. Your thoughts and opinions, please.

[GreatBird]

Wow. A global sister in TV, huh? ;)  

I think the jobs are different when you work on a drama vs. what I've done which is news and public affairs programming--most often live. I keep the show segments to time, count in the taped roll-ins, and deal with crazy producers (I'm sure that part is no different ). Actually, for the past four years I was mostly in editing, so I think I lost some of my edge anyway. As it is, I'm about half-retired because of the layoff and being fifty-four in this business is somewhat ancient.

One of my biggest fears after I found out I had HCV was that my kids and the DH also had it, but I was very, very lucky that all those years, all those boo-boos and bandaids, none of it got transmitted. Still, I get worried. Like recently when I was pilling the cat and he scratched me and then the DH, and that sent me into a BIG tizzy. (The DH thought I needed to chill about it--he wasn't worried at all, but guess what. He's getting tested again whether he likes it or not. At least once I clear he is.)

Thanks for the encouragement! Hang tough. And keep 'em on schedule. :)

[copyman]

perhaps I missed some of your point but i still have to disagree that people here are more biased towards Telaprevir. The reason it may seem like that is because Boceprevir seemed like it just came out of nowhere a year or so ago, so more people have treated with Telaprevir.  As for CTON that was a long time ago and is history. I can understand that we are doing the different studies and want to stand by our choice. Thanks for the well wishes and I wish the same for you. This Thanksgiving lets give thanks for being able to have the chance to participate in a study with these promising new drugs. God bless

[can-do-man]

I think you missed my point, but i am glad i was able to make you laugh. And really i wish you the best of luck.

[copyman]

It was your post i was laughing at. i find it obsurd that you would think people here would push telaprevir because of being shraeholders. since i have been here the last several years there have not been that many people that treated in the vertex trials, and only a few times talk about vertex stock on this site but never to influence someone to opt for telaprevir over boceprevir. Do you really think Vertex or shareholders need to sway people into their trials? there are people knocking down doors to get into the Telaprevir trials.
All i can comment on is what Telaprevir has done for me. Starting VL 10 million, after  20 days.....UNDETECTABLE. That is all that is important and all I really care about.

[fretboard]

"fretboard, i thought that the teleprevir and the Boceprevir both gave early clearance. Do you mean because of the four-week lead-up in the Boceprevir? and yes, you are completely right. some people don't need to treat. but at what point can you really be sure of that"?  

If it really bothers you that you have HepC, then by all means tx.  As far as the BOC, yes you can get a quick UND, but it does have that 4wk lead in, so it will never be as fast as telaprevir can be.  This tx is not like anything you've ever been thru, and I don't even know you, but I bet I'm right.lol   I had to start to get some peace and quiet from what I was going thru.  If not for all the pain and swelling I guess I would still be waiting.  Txing will rock your world, so prepare for it and educate yourself.  There is absolutely, no way to predict what you are gonna go thru, and there is no way to predict that you don't have to tx.  good luck with your decision

[epiphiny]

That was my MOST profound fear in the last 20 years.  And I still worry when I am around small children and cuts and grazes, just all those little niggly things, cutting my finger and mopping up my blood, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, nail scissors etc even tho I know the statistics and methods and risks of transmitting the virus.

I suspect I will always worry about those things for the rest of my life but it sure feels good to know that I am doing everything I can to help stem the transmission and solve a global health problem!