teleprivir and waiting????

[jt57]

Had my biopsy yesterday.  The Dr. said that my tissue "looked good" and he wanted me to think about "waiting" for treatment.  He is doing a teleprivir  trial starting this summer for 1b patients that have never had any previous treatment. We were going to start immediately on the current SOC.  I'll get my actual results on Wednesday, so I will actually have more to go on then.

What do you guys think?  Is the teleprivir an injection, or a pill?  How about side effects?  

I am hoping that the doc stating my tissue looked good is indicative of a good report!!!!  

Appreciate all the support out there!  I was really scared about the biopsy, but this forum convinced me I needed to do it.  You guys are a great support system.. I'll do my best to contribute what I can to the forum as well!!

Jean

[moahunter]

There are advantages and disadvantages to trials. The big advantage seems to be cost. Additionally, you may get access to a better treatment, long before other people. The disadvantages can include an inability to modify your treatment regime, and additionally, that you are in effect a guinea pig for the rest of us. The worst case scenarios include unanticipated side effects, or developing resistance to a future treatment. Whatever you decide, good luck with it!

[jt57]

Thanks!  Sounds like the study trial is something I should seriously consider.  Hopefully, my results are good on Wed. and I can wait to start treatment in a few months!  

Jean

[dointime]

If the choice is between starting SOC now or waiting till the summer and getting into a telaprevir trial then it's a no-brainer, you go for the trial.  Telaprevir will give you a significantly better chance of clearing the virus.  Worse case scenario you get to be in the control group of the trial and then you don't get telaprevir, you get SOC alone.  So what's to lose by waiting for the trial and having a great chance of getting telaprevir as well.  

dointime  

[Andiamo1]

Copyman is correct; sorry for the confusion.  The proposed protocol for Telaprevir is to take all three drugs (Telaprevir, interferon and Ribaviron) for 12 weeks followed by interferon and ribaviron for an additional 12 weeks.

I am geno 1A.  I just completed a phase 2 trial with it two weeks ago.

[copyman]

I think you may have misunderstood, telaprevir is taken along with the current harsh drugs. any new drugs are in combination with interferon & ribaviron. maybe someday they could elimanate interferon & ribavirin but for now it is part of the mix

[jt57]

wow!   so you are taking teleprivir presently?  what genotype?  Congrats on the viral drop!  It sounds like it may be easier onthe system than the present SOC.  Hopefully it works for you this time!