AASLD 2013 Liver Meeting, final day Hep C treatments overview
Tig said
Jan 8, 2014
Hello Applepie,
Thank you for sharing this information! It should prove to be a very interesting and informative meeting this year. With the number of good existing treatments, along with the recently released drugs, the data should be impressive.
I'd like to welcome you to the forum and ask you to introduce yourself in our New Members section. I look forward to your future participation!
Best, Tig
applepie said
Jan 8, 2014
Hi!
I had been reading the forum for a while and then I came across to this one after reading the article and I wanted to share something related. The 2014 version of the same conference, AASLD 2014 will be held in Boston, in November.
In addition, there is another meeting I am considering of attending this year is HEPATITIS 2014, and that will be in Barcelona in March.
Cinnamon Girl said
Nov 22, 2013
Hi SusiQ, thanks for sharing that info, and yes I should imagine that once the results from the phase 2 trials have been published then Merck will go straight ahead with phase 3. You`re right about the `Breakthrough Therapy` status, which the FDA awards to a drug (or drug combo) when the preliminary clinical evidence indicates substantial improvements over existing treatment therapies, which is certainly the case here.
I`ve been following your story on your Clinical Trials thread, and I admire your perseverance! You must be so pleased that things worked out so well for you in the end, and having such a good and helpful trial co-ordinator must make such a difference. Great to see it`s going so well for you!
suziq said
Nov 22, 2013
Hi John,
Since the Merck trial I am on is only in Phase 2, there will have to be more testing before it is presented for FDA approval They will be presenting data from my trial this Spring--according to the article. Start looking for a study center or doctor who is doing Merck trials. They will probably start more trials in Jan or Feb. End date for my trial is 1/14/2014. Some will stop on 12/3/2013 but the trial will continue until Jan for the rest. They will tell us on Dec 3. I don't know how trials work, but assume they will analyze the end data from this trial and then go forward. This combo is on breakthrough status--whatever that means. I think it means it has unusual qualities that other combos don't have--like working even if there is resistance built up from earlier treatment--like Jill said.
Don't know where you are. I am doing the trial in Dallas/Ft Worth Texas area. My study center also did some of the earlier Merck trial. If you did victrelis, I think that is a Merck drug and your center may do Merck studies.
Jill, I feel very fortunate to have gotten in this trial. My coordinator kept telling me it was a very good trial (in Aug when I screened for it), but could not reveal more until after the presentation in Nov. I posted the story of my midnight ride to the study center so we could screen one minute after midnight for an available slot. I have so much admiration for my coordinator. She is so dedicated. Can't believe that I am already into week 11. It was great to see how all the different trials are doing in one article. Thanks again.
SuziQ
-- Edited by suziq on Friday 22nd of November 2013 02:03:02 PM
Cinnamon Girl said
Nov 22, 2013
Hi SusiQ, I`m glad you found the article helpful, I thought it would be easy for people to digest. Yes, the Merck trial you`re doing is a very good one, you were lucky to have got on it.
Hi John, well Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir are expected to get FDA approval first, although for people in your position who have already done triple therapy with a protease inhibitor like incivek (or victrelis) it looks like the situation isn`t that straightforward because it`s likely that you now have drug resistant hep C virus mutations, or `RAV`s, so that limits your future treatment options.
I would be really good if you could get on a Merck trial, like the one SusiQ is doing, as that particular drug combo has been shown to be effective against all known RAVs. I should speak to your doctor about it and ask about suitable trials in your area or even outside your area if you`re prepared to travel for regular clinic visits. Best of luck!
JLynch30 said
Nov 22, 2013
Any dates when the stuff will hit the market?
suziq said
Nov 22, 2013
Thanks so much for this very readable article. I am on Merck's C-Worthy trial--second phase of the earlier trial.
SuziQ
Cinnamon Girl said
Nov 21, 2013
The final day of AASLD Liver Meeting, recently held in Washington, DC, featured an overview of the status of new hepatitis C therapies, similarities between HCV and HIV, and a look towards the future of hepatitis C treatment. The development of next-generation HCV drugs has been remarkably rapid and experts agree that it may soon be possible to cure all patients with hepatitis C, but access is likely to be a challenge.
Mark Sulkowski from Johns Hopkins presented a "hepatitis debrief" summarizing the vast quantity of data on new hepatitis C drugs presented at the meeting.
Hello Applepie,
Thank you for sharing this information! It should prove to be a very interesting and informative meeting this year. With the number of good existing treatments, along with the recently released drugs, the data should be impressive.
I'd like to welcome you to the forum and ask you to introduce yourself in our New Members section. I look forward to your future participation!
Best, Tig
Hi!
I had been reading the forum for a while and then I came across to this one after reading the article and I wanted to share something related. The 2014 version of the same conference, AASLD 2014 will be held in Boston, in November.
In addition, there is another meeting I am considering of attending this year is HEPATITIS 2014, and that will be in Barcelona in March.
Hi SusiQ, thanks for sharing that info, and yes I should imagine that once the results from the phase 2 trials have been published then Merck will go straight ahead with phase 3. You`re right about the `Breakthrough Therapy` status, which the FDA awards to a drug (or drug combo) when the preliminary clinical evidence indicates substantial improvements over existing treatment therapies, which is certainly the case here.
I`ve been following your story on your Clinical Trials thread, and I admire your perseverance! You must be so pleased that things worked out so well for you in the end, and having such a good and helpful trial co-ordinator must make such a difference. Great to see it`s going so well for you!
Hi John,
Since the Merck trial I am on is only in Phase 2, there will have to be more testing before it is presented for FDA approval They will be presenting data from my trial this Spring--according to the article. Start looking for a study center or doctor who is doing Merck trials. They will probably start more trials in Jan or Feb. End date for my trial is 1/14/2014. Some will stop on 12/3/2013 but the trial will continue until Jan for the rest. They will tell us on Dec 3. I don't know how trials work, but assume they will analyze the end data from this trial and then go forward. This combo is on breakthrough status--whatever that means. I think it means it has unusual qualities that other combos don't have--like working even if there is resistance built up from earlier treatment--like Jill said.
Don't know where you are. I am doing the trial in Dallas/Ft Worth Texas area. My study center also did some of the earlier Merck trial. If you did victrelis, I think that is a Merck drug and your center may do Merck studies.
Jill, I feel very fortunate to have gotten in this trial. My coordinator kept telling me it was a very good trial (in Aug when I screened for it), but could not reveal more until after the presentation in Nov. I posted the story of my midnight ride to the study center so we could screen one minute after midnight for an available slot. I have so much admiration for my coordinator. She is so dedicated. Can't believe that I am already into week 11. It was great to see how all the different trials are doing in one article. Thanks again.
SuziQ
-- Edited by suziq on Friday 22nd of November 2013 02:03:02 PM
Hi SusiQ, I`m glad you found the article helpful, I thought it would be easy for people to digest. Yes, the Merck trial you`re doing is a very good one, you were lucky to have got on it.
Hi John, well Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir are expected to get FDA approval first, although for people in your position who have already done triple therapy with a protease inhibitor like incivek (or victrelis) it looks like the situation isn`t that straightforward because it`s likely that you now have drug resistant hep C virus mutations, or `RAV`s, so that limits your future treatment options.
I would be really good if you could get on a Merck trial, like the one SusiQ is doing, as that particular drug combo has been shown to be effective against all known RAVs. I should speak to your doctor about it and ask about suitable trials in your area or even outside your area if you`re prepared to travel for regular clinic visits. Best of luck!
Thanks so much for this very readable article. I am on Merck's C-Worthy trial--second phase of the earlier trial.
SuziQ
The final day of AASLD Liver Meeting, recently held in Washington, DC, featured an overview of the status of new hepatitis C therapies, similarities between HCV and HIV, and a look towards the future of hepatitis C treatment. The development of next-generation HCV drugs has been remarkably rapid and experts agree that it may soon be possible to cure all patients with hepatitis C, but access is likely to be a challenge.
Mark Sulkowski from Johns Hopkins presented a "hepatitis debrief" summarizing the vast quantity of data on new hepatitis C drugs presented at the meeting.
Full article...
http://hivandhepatitis.com/hepatitis-c/hepatitis-c-topics/hcv-treatment/4416-aasld-2013-liver-meeting-ends-with-hepatitis-c-debrief-and-the-future-of-treatment