Switching from Pegasys to Besremi

[Paul123456]

Many of us are likely to be moving over to Besremi within the next month or so.

Are there many here who have already done this and can they please share their experiences re equivalent dosages and any side effects.

Also how long a gap between stopping Pegasys and starting Besremi?

I assume that Besremi doesn’t require any bedding in period before it becomes effective ? ie it’s a seamless transition in terms of efficacy?

Thanks

Paul

[hunter5582]

It was totally seamless for me. No difference in efficacy nor side effects as well. I just started the Besremi injection when I was due for the next PEG injection. Note that some have reported difference in how they responded to Besremi vs Pegasys.

This is the dosing conversion recommended by Dr. Ruben Mesa et al.

Add up total Monthly Dose x 0.7/2.

Wishing you success in making the switch.

Pegasys to Besremi dosing conversion

[Carol0925]

Hi Paul, when my MPN Consultant contacted me a couple of weeks ago, she told me Besremi was only prescribed for private patients. Apparently it hasn’t been approved for NHS patients. If it is approved it’s unlikely to be any time soon. It’s really expensive, so that may pose a problem too. Which hospital is swapping to Besmeri in your area?

[MPort]

I am very pleased you have asked this question. I am in the same boat. I hope to be given Besremi. It's good to hear Hunter had a seamless transition. Considering what Carol says about cost let's hope we can get it. I hear from the US that this happens every time when manufacturers of interferon change. Let's just hope we can have some kind of interferon in the transition period. Mairead

[hunter5582 in reply to MPort]

The switch from Pegasys to Besremi was medically seamless, but not so much the access to the medication. My insurance company denied the authorization saying they would "never" pay for it. This was immediately after it was FDA approved. My doctor was unable to get the Besremi approved. I had to file my own appeal, which with a lot of work succeeded. It has been approved every time since then.

Regarding cost, Besremi as a new medication is about four times as expensive. Approximate cost for PEG in the USA = $4,200/month (four doses). BES = $16,800/month (2 doses). Cost is, in part, due to the cost of bringing a new drug to market. Average cost = $1,3 billion. That cost has to be recouped with a smaller number of patients with a rare disease. This is why advocacy is so important for rare disease drug development. Advocacy is also needed to make these drugs available to patients once they are approved.

Wishing everyone success in accessing the meds they need.

[Aldebaran25]

I switched from Peg to Besremi when I moved to a EU country from the UK. The frequency of dosage (every two weeks) did not change , the dosage went from 135 mcg Peg to alternating 100 mcg / 50 mcg Bes. The Bes worked very well (better than Peg frankly) in controlling blood values and very soon my dosage was dropped to 50mcg only. No issues in the transition.