Hi Rebeca,

Yep, they are the three AbbVie drugs. None of them are top-shelf by themselves, but in combination they use the shot-gun approach to viral replication. They were trialled extensively in Australia with good results, and we have heard they may price the drugs competitively (for Australia). We shall see.

Mallani, when you say  "AbbVie drugs will son be approved. Are you speaking about those?:

The AbbVie investigational regimen consists of ABT-450/ritonavir co-formulated with ombitasvir (ABT-267), and dasabuvir (ABT-333) with or without RBV. The combination of three different mechanisms of action interrupts the hepatitis C virus replication process with the goal of optimizing sustained virologic response rates across different patient populations (http://www.natap.org/2014/HCV/061614_05.htm).

Can we hope to be more cheaper?

What do you think?

Hi Rebeca,

In Australia, Geno 1 patients can access Victrelis (or Incivek, but that is rarely used here). Fibrosis stage is not an issue.

Geno 2 and 3 are stuck with Peg/Riba. There are only a few Trials going on. Sovaldi has been approved but is not on our PBS, so you can get it, if you can afford to pay full price.

We're hoping the AbbVie drugs will soon be approved and make it to the PBS. It will take a year at least.

Thank you all,

Your answers have help me to put this in perspective, again.

Isiscat, very interesting links, we need groups to fight against this injustice. I´ll take part.

Loopy, I like what you say, "we are playing the waiting game", thank you.

 Mallani, when I think rationally, I can see that I can wait for Sovaldi, I can see that something will happen soon, in the world,thank you.

Which is currently the situation in Australia?

Hi Rebeca,

Good to hear from you. Don't feel too disappointed about missing out on Simeprevir. Even if you don't have the Q80K polymorphism, the SVR rates for Geno 1a are about the same as for Victrelis or Incivek, and 24 weeks of treatment (12 weeks of Simeprevir) costs twice as much.

As an F2, you can wait for Sovaldi to drop in price. However, it's a good idea to get another Fibroscan at some stage. Be patient. Cheers.

I don't know what to add to this except to say that as long as profits are more important than people there will continue to be needless HCV suffering and deaths.  Medicines are only useful if patients have access to them.  The situation is worse in some countries than in others but HCV treatment rationing will occur world wide including in the US.   If you are able become involved in non-profit advocacy organizations that can and do create change.  

The HepC Coalition is an international organization:  

http://www.hepcoalition.org/

Act Up is another group that is active in Europe:

http://actupny.com/actions/

Hi Rebecca,

Don't feel too down, a lot of people have not known they had the disease and progressed to nearly liver failure and are doing fine since treating. I know the feeling of waiting to be rid of it and not being able to do anything about it is a heavy load. But on the upside there are new drugs just around the corner that will give us all a good chance to cure. 

I tried in April traditional treatment peg and Riba but I wasn't prepared enough. Since then I have had my dates changed 3 times to start Solvadi because of insurance companies. I hope that Daclatasvir will give us realistic pricing and no one has to worry about obtaining these medicines anymore.

Either way, hold on in there, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are just playing the waiting game.

Hugs...

Hi friends,

Im glad that using Sovaldi is already common in USA , (Although,I know that many people can not access it,without health insurance).

Here in Spain, in July,  the government said that he had an agreement to buy  simeprevirtreatment of 3months, for 25000 Euros, (Peg /Ribseparately). With a6-month treatment. · 3 monthsSimeprevir/riba/peg, and 3 months PEG /RIB.
The spokesman said the  treatment would be for everyone.( genotype 1 and 4)

They said to begin in August. The problem is that those who have genotype 1a, it´s necessary to check if you have a polymorphism Q80K.( At the moment, they don´t do this genetic testing).

Anyway, I went on holydays very happy. But now my family doctor says that she has spoken to my  hepatologist and It will not be any possibility to treat F2, even F3. They will have the drug to use in  severe cases.

While, they are trying to negotiate with Gilead to buy Sovaldi for compassionate use.

In december, I will get a fibroscan and a medical appointment.

I´m really very depressed.