More progress.

[cityman62]

Not new News,but News to me.-An experimental hepatitis C drug combination from Gilead Sciences Inc.wiped out all strains of the virus in a large clinical trial, giving the company an advantage against AbbVie Inc. in the race to treat as many patients as possible.

In a trial of 624 patients with any of six strains, or genotypes, of hepatitis C, Gilead’s experimental combination of velpatasvir and sofosbuvir was effective at clearing the virus 99 percent of the time after 12 weeks of therapy. Three related trials also showed the drug was successful in treating multiple strains, the Foster City biotech company said this week.

“This is a big step forward to proving they’re going to have a pan-genotypic option here,” said Asthika Goonewardene, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. In hepatitis C, “you have a very fragmented market,” Goonewardene said, because of the genetic diversity of the virus, which causes the liver disease.

Variety of strains

Gilead and AbbVie already have drugs on the market for hepatitis C, though they’ve mostly focused on patients with genotype 1, the most common strain in the U.S. Other strains are more common in different parts of the world. Globally, almost a third of patients suffer from genotype 3, which is more common in India and Southeast Asia.

[briccolone]

I have friend in Egypt who's a top endochronoligist there and involved in the trials-hep c being rife in egypt- he's very encouraged by the results

[cityman62 in reply to briccolone]

It's brilliant,you can even start to imagine a future vaccine one fine day.

[ballie52]

Having genotype 4 I am aware that in Egypt there is a huge problem with hep c..All the evidence shows that Harvoni as well as Sovaldi are very effective at clearing the virus. .I think as for most of the other genotypes these drugs are also successful given for the right duration according to severity of disease..At last I think we might have won the battle to end this deadly virus.

[Bermuda1]

They are also looking at other versions of drug combinations , which may take the time down to 6 weeks or less. Many with the above version may need 12 or 24 weeks, which they often do not tell you.

[Bermuda1]

The majority of cases of Hep C in Egypt were caused by an inoculation given for Bilharzia, where they did not use the safe practice of a new needle for each person , which is why they ended up with almost epidemic proportions.

[cityman62 in reply to Bermuda1]

Thats-literally,Criminal stupidity.

[briccolone in reply to Bermuda1]

wasn't aware of that-tragic

[Bermuda1]

Well , they didn't understand the significance or the risk at the time much could be said the same of the Western world, and all the people who have never been compensated due to being infected by contaminated blood. Funnily enough they don't talk about that in the media either.

[cityman62 in reply to Bermuda1]

My initial post was copied from hepctrust.org.UK,which apart from being an excellent resource, also (under the support tab)links to the Skipton fund and Caxton foundation-both of which will pay reasonably decent lump sums to those infected via the N.h.s.

[Bermuda1 in reply to cityman62]

That's great , but the are people who are unaware of that and in other countries who will get nothing.

[cityman62 in reply to Bermuda1]

I totally agree,there should be a blanket compensation scheme for all concerned.As there should be many other things provided via the N.H.S.-A regular screening prodedure for prostrate cancer in men,a simple home blood prick test for hcv,a properly funded air ambulance scheme,and a myriad of other,generally,cost-effective,facilities.But-as ever the N.H.S. is caught between a rock and a hard place.(Deliberately),and chronically underfunded by a Government that actively dislikes the very ethos of a universal health system free at the point of use for all.Who,should it ever become politically acceptable,will immediately dismantle it,and force the general.population onto bupa type insurance schemes,probably with a skeletal,basic safety-net type service for the underclasses.And also held to ransom by hugely powerful ,largely unregulated drug companies.Who oddly enough employ M.P.s as parliamentary 'consultants' to look after their interests...

[ballie52]

My husband was one of those unfortunate people that got the Bulhrzia vaccine Egypt..found out yrs later they used contaminated needles and infected half the population of Egypt with hep c..sadly he never found out until he developed liver cancer due to his hep c..even worse found out I also caught the virus from him..maybe sharing razors..3 transplants later my husband is cured and doing great..sadly I just found out I have cirrhosis ...was a shock as I saw the journey he went through and it wasn't easy..but at least I can get a cure with Harvoni when they decide to treat me..4 family members of my husbands side all died young of hep c..a tragedy in Egypt is an under statement. .but what can you do..just happy that maybe it's all over for people with hep c now..although too late for those people that never got a chance of a cure..sorry for the rant but it's been a long hard journey!

[dizzime in reply to ballie52]

OMG ballie52 that is such a sad story all due to being given a vaccine to help you with a virus to end up with it all going so wrong and with HepC. So glad your husband has now been cured and doing ok. I really hope you get the new treatment soon and get the cure yourself and that your liver recovers soon. please stay strong and positive. I would rant to with that experience . keep in there x

[cityman62 in reply to ballie52]

That's pretty damn grim-may I ask why you havnt yet been started on harvoni/riba!!

[ballie52]

City man I have been told I am on the list because I have cirrhosis..I haven't been given a date to start ..hoping maybe April next year as I was told although I have cirrhosis and low platelets apparently not sick enough to be treated right now!

[cityman62 in reply to ballie52]

Incredible-you are exactly where I am right now,low platelet count/cirrhosis etc, I'm in Wales,so I'm not sure,are you in England?You need to be treated-right now.

[cityman62]

Crazy days,it strikes me,a miraculous cure for hep c,sadly its mostly done irretrievabe damage for most of us,thank God for the next generation,and also for liver transplants in the future.On another note,I ponder-how do you define a cure?Is a viral load reading definitive?Viruses like this mutate incredibly quickly,and-I understand,have the ability to hide in the brain/glandular system,and lie low,rather like a close relation h.I.v.What is a cure-exactly?a viral blood load at a given moment in time strikes me as a crude measure of whether you are free.....

[ballie52]

City man I am in Hertfordshire. .I think depending on the area you are in might effect how quickly you get treated. .I attend Addenbrokes hospital..they are treating a lot of people right now...as I said I am on the list but just not at the front Lol.

As for clearing the virus I think when its undetectable at 12wks it's unable to replicate so considered a cure..well that's my understanding but it has came back for a few unlucky people..I think 24wks kills it completely.

[cityman62 in reply to ballie52]

I hope you get it-soonest.I'm just coming up to a month now on harvoni/rib,been feeling a bit grotty this last week,but nothing to complain about.Saw my nurse this morn to give bloods,and though it's policy here in my hospital not to tell you your viral load until your done.She showed me loads of graphs which instead of mainly red flags,are now green.One liver enzyme which was reading 237 on commencement (40 is normal) is sitting on 45 now,so well chuffed so far.Good luck with it all,I hope you get it before Crimbo!

[mousehold]

I am geno 3 and I was cured in 4 weels, went negative. 12 weeks later still neg, one year later still neg. I tried the old cruel regime 4 times and virus rebounded each time. These new drugs target the virus so little side effects and fantastic out come. Problem - cost. NICE have approved use but NHS England not using.

[cityman62 in reply to mousehold]

That's totally wrong and an abuse of the system surely?Nice abitrate on whether a new treatment is cost effective,as soon as its given the nod by them,its always been the case that it's rolled out immediately.This is a dangerous precedent in that if the English N.H.S are saying we can't afford it and will have to wait ,say,6 months to roll this out.What's to stop them delaying until next year or 2 years!?Surely,there's a case for legally challenging a stone-walling decision when a life saving drug-thats been approved by Nice,is denied to patients.Not to mention the potential for anyone bereaved to bring a private action against their health authority.

[mousehold in reply to cityman62]

Yes I think it is actually unprecedented. They keep movig the introduction date further and further away saying they are consulting and all that jazz. (a polite word) Hep C Trust will have more info.