Oooh, it seems we were on the same trial! I believe R1728 and RO5024048 are the same drug. I am excited about my progress thus far as I was previous G3 non-responder to standard tx with pegasys/riba.
I am in week 13 and so far I am holding my own with the virus still undetectable <15 and while my hb and neutrophils are a little low I am still on full dose and managing to carry out most of my work duties. Like you, DragonSlayer, I feel like it's the hardest thing I have ever done.
I have also heard, anecdotally, that those people on the trial who got the study drug all managed to reach undetectable <15 by Week 4. I think all the tests were/are done at a central lab in Texas which is the TaqMan PCR test.
All power to you, DragonSlayer, I know it ain't fun but it'll be worth it to kick it!
I also participated in a trial for a new polymerase inhibitor called R7128. Took it (or placebo) along with peg and riba for 4 weeks followed by just peg and riba for 4 weeks. I am now in follow up for an additional 40 weeks with peg and riba (to make a total of 48 weeks tx).
I like epiphany went from several million to <15 by week 4. I am in week 10 right now. The trail drug had no sides and all of my sides are also from SOC. They totally are not fun, but I am still working. This treatment with the peg and riba is the hardest thing I have ever done.
I have just completed a trial of a new protease inhibitor drug in which I took the study drug RO5024048 in conjunction with Pegasys & Ribavirin for 28 days.
At Week 4 my viral load had dropped from 1,720,000 to <15. In other words, the virus is undetectable in my blood to the lower limits of that particular test.
I had very mild side effects which did not interfer with my normal daily activities. Most of the side effects were from the SOC TX.
Here's the link to more info on the trial. I believe some parts are still recruiting.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00382798?intr=%22RO5024048%22&rank=1
As part of being on the trial I am now continuing on with the full length SOC treatment and I hope to achieve SVR.
All the best with your search!
M :)
take a look at clinicaltrials.gov. type in hepatitis c and you will see hundreds of trial. the most interesting are the teleprevir, alinia and theraputic vaccine trials.