Merck Announces New Data Analyses for VICTRELIS™ (Boceprevir)

[can-do-man]

About the HCV RESPOND-2 and HCV SPRINT-2 Studies

The HCV RESPOND-2 study in treatment-failure patients and the HCV SPRINT-2 study in previously untreated patients each evaluated two treatment strategies with VICTRELIS administered in combination with PEGINTRON and ribavirin to assess the ability to improve sustained virologic response (SVR) 1 and potentially shorten overall treatment duration compared to treatment with PEGINTRON and ribavirin alone:

• Response-guided therapy, in which treatment-failure patients with undetectable virus at week 8 were able to stop all treatment at 36 weeks, and in which previously untreated

• patients with undetectable virus during weeks 8 through 24 were able to stop all treatment at 28 weeks; and

• 48 weeks of treatment (4-week PEGINTRON and ribavirin lead-in followed by the addition of VICTRELIS for 44 weeks).

In both studies, all patients were treated with a 4-week lead-in of PEGINTRON (1.5 mcg/kg/week) and an investigational dose of ribavirin (600-1,400 mg/day), followed by the addition of VICTRELIS (800 mg three times a day).

http://hepatitiscresearchandnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2011/03/merck-announces-new-data-analyses-for.html

[susan400]

I read that article, too.  I'm just wondering what the name change means in relationship to when it will finally be FDA approved/released??  Will it slow down the process?  I hope not.  I'm hoping to see it released before the end of 2011, but who knows at this point??

Susan400

[can-do-man]

"On a side note; it's interesting how a drug name morphs over time."

True, in the seventies i could never keep up with all the different names...:) Has it been warmer in south FL this winter?


As for boceprevir, this is the first time i read where treatment-failure patients will be able to tx for less then 48 weeks

[positude]

They can call it whatever they want to as far as I'm concerned, it seems to have worked for me. I was clear at week 8 and was able to stop all tx at week 28 because of it. Still UND at 3 months post, and will find out in a couple of weeks if I'm SVR at 6 months post.

The only thing that worries me is the anemia, which can be really bad. It was for me. But I was in a trial study where I was very closely monitored and that will not be the case for people when it comes out for general use. Still, I feel the benefit outweighs the risk.

Just my thoughts.

Pos.

[FlGuy]

On a side note; it's interesting how a drug name morphs over time.  From SCH5034 to Boceprevir and now known as Victrelis.