clinical trials and dropped off a cliff

[Johnkelsey]

Five years ago I joined the Astra Zeneca clinical trial of Olaparib with Zytiga, through my oncologist at Fox Chase in Philadelphia. Earlier this year A-Z ended the trial and applied for FDA approval of the combo, it does seem to help some of us. I learned that I had been taking the placebo, not the trial med. No problem, that's the nature of a trial.

Now however A-Z won't answer whether they will continue to supply Zytiga, and the trial coordinator believes they will not, they probably will stop it sometime during 2024. My current Medicare Part D drug plan won't supply it either, so I need to change to a more expensive drug plan during this annual change window, which ends Dec 7, just to cover myself in the event A-Z does in fact stop supplying.

I don't have a beef with most of this, except for A-Z's refusal to give a timely answer during this Part D enrollment period. That feels like a slap in the face, an above-the-fray unwillingness to recognize the patient realities of our tortuous US medical insurance system.

[Scout4answers]

It is available on line for about $100/month for 120- 250mg tabs. I think it is Mark Cuban's drug outfit.

[mrscruffy]

I have an advantage plan and Zytiga is $65 a month

[Tall_Allen]

FDA approved the combo as a result of your clinical trial for men with the BRCA. If you can get olaparib through your current Part D drug plan, abiraterone is relatively cheap ( $134/mo) through costplusdrugs.com

[Jewelrylady]

try calling BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy [phone]. My husband gets his Zytiga from them and he pays nothing! They do use his Part D plan, and he does meet income limit for married couple filing jointly. He was approved in one day.

[Bethpage in reply to Jewelrylady]

Thank you for this. I maintain a list of sources for financial assistance for my Wives FB group. This is one I did not have. I appreciate it!

[User2008 in reply to Bethpage]

Bethpage, are you at liberty to let me know the name of your Wives FB group? I already belong to one group but I was wondering if there is another that I may join? Thanks!

[Bethpage in reply to User2008]

I'm at liberty but don't want to infringe here. I will send you a chat with the name.

[Jewelrylady in reply to Bethpage]

Hope it can help someone. I’d like to know name of wives fb group, too. Is it specific to PC

[Bethpage in reply to Jewelrylady]

I will send you a chat with the name of my group. I'm here to learn not to recruit, but am happy to share. I just don't want to infringe.@

[Originalsnds]

John, Sorry to tell you, I was on the exact same trial at Fox Chase as well. and the answer is NO. I had to get the Zytiga and Prednedone myself, It is no longer given to us as it was part of the Trial. I was on the real Orilarb not the placebo Helped me for quite awhile. Hpwever I now have 4 new mets. I just went thru radiation again to my S2 which was very bad with cancer. I had ended up in the hospital with unbearable pain from it. all they could do for me was have me on very high Pain IV's for a week. My blood pressure was 234 over 110. Not good

I got thru it though. I have a Electronic Metronic morphine med pump implanted in my abdomin. It is scheduled to give me relief 24/7 attached is a tube and catheter up into my spinal column to my mid chest. helps control pain in lower area of it. It couldnt give me any relief from the new met in S2. Th radiation 2 week sessions did finally help the pain.

Fox Chase is Great. Been there 8 years now. Still on Elligard and Zytiga, Im afraid i will never get off of this I take Exgeva also for my bones. Funny thisng, I started with advanced prostate cancer back in 2015. already had spread. Psa 28 Gleason 9 held everything pretty nice and now i fight to control more spread. I go th Fox on Dec 19. Hopefully better news and maybe a new trial. We are all warriors in this fight. We never give up. Barry