New Interferon developments may make tx easier

[DoubleDose]

Here is a recently published report regarding Locteron, a new, slow release interferon administered every two weeks.  What looks really promising is that the side effect profile in this study looks much more 'user friendly' than currently used peg-interferons and infergen.  Also, the other highly positive finding is that this new interferon seems to be even more effective in achieving complete response within twelve weeks.  They had 100% with a minimum 2-log drop, and it seems most had a 4-log drop over twelve weeks, as compared to lower numbers for the currunt drugs.

Using these newer, less intrusive, less 'painful' interferons, if and when they are approved should provide a great cocktail partner to the newer protease and polymerase inhibitor drugs in trials.

Conceivably, in the not too distant future, one might combine a solid protease inhibitor, a safe, effective polymerase inhibitor, and the newer milder long acting interferon, along with Ribavirin, and maybe even the really tough cases go for about twelve weeks maximum.  Let's all hope this is where things are heading.  Lots of great progress out there!
Here is the link:

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2007icr/aasld/docs/113007_d.html

DoubleDose

[mpt98]

my husband is currently participating in a research study in Dallas using the slow release interferon (one injection every 2 weeks). He also takes the 1200 mg of Ribavirin daily. The study results were blinded until week 12, but when we finally got to see them we found out his viral load was down at week 4, up slightly at week 6, and undetectable at week 12. Starting point was 13million. He started treatment as treatment naive, genotype 1a. He will finish last dose in June 2008 (if we can hang in there that long).  He is convinced he has more side effects from the ribavirin, which so far have been fairly awful. However, I am not sure I would call his interferon "user friendly", but we have no experience with the other dosing schedule for interferon.

[ross135]

Jim - I had a question if you would be so kind. I am a gen1, had a ultra sound that came back negative for cancer, had high alt/ast/afp numbers after I stopped taking milk thistle. As soon as I got back on milk thistle they went down. I'm waiting to here on my viral load. I thought about using other supplements I've read about but the Dr. advised against it. I thought about using a liver cleanser and Lactoferrin. How could they be a problem? Does the liver treat supplements like toxins and remove them? And therefore, do supplements put the liver to work causing it damage? I'm still learning.
Ross

[jmjm530]

Thanks for posting. Sounds promising. Wonder though, why only EVR stats and no UND stats. Also, no stats prior to week 12. You would think that in these 'modern' times, they would try and pinpoint to the week when each of the participants became UND. I believer they did something similar to that with the Telaprevir trials.

-- Jim