SF Biz Times "Gilead has the Cure"

[purplecat]

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2013/03/01/gilead-reaches-for-a-cure.html
Fourteen months after buying a small biotech company with a promising hepatitis C treatment for $11 billion, Gilead Sciences Inc. is on the cusp of seeking approval for a potential cure.

But even with the drug’s accelerated pace, some say, Foster City-based Gilead is leaving behind an important player: patients with the debilitating and potentially deadly virus. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and a handful of vocal patients say the cure could arrive more quickly if Gilead cooperated with its competitor.

“I get that it’s all about their profit,” said Margaret Dudley, a San Antonio woman with hepatitis C who has launched ...
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This is all I can see of the Article or I have to pay 59.00 for subscription but this just was published in weekly "San Francisco Business Times"

Would like to see whole article but can afford the 59 bucks.

Anyone subscribe to SFBIZ?

[can-do-man]

I agree Hector, I wish more attention was being used by some... Hope all is well guy

[Diana66]

Hector, I thought that Sofosbuvir does not work by itseld. Right now, to be succesful it needs to be combined also with Ribavirin

Although only for 12 weeks it is still toxic

I think that Margaret is pushing for the combination without the Riba and Interferon

It was ready to go, everything had fantastic results, but Gilead is more interested in the money. And I do not buy the idea that they are responsible to their shareholders as they would not exist without us, the patients. So they are responsible to us to start with

I am forced to treat with a combination which is not in my best interest at the same time when a better option was in fact available but greed took precedence

[can-do-man]

Ready to go???  It was only in phase 2 with a total of 88 people and 29 of those had Riba, it did not have a 100% cure rate and there was serious adverse events in 4% of those people....... As for Riba being toxic? We have no ideal how toxic these will turn out to be...... And who is being forced to treat now??? I'm not saying the early results was not good but they was way far from being ready to go, there have been others that blew up once they got into phase 3 trials

There is all kinds of "mix and match" going on right now with also very good results and about 2 years ahead of this now.........

[asle]

Thanks Diana. I was a little perplexed when Hector said this. This is a current petition, hopefully to be delivered to the Whitehouse on March 21st.
I just believe that it is worth trying anything to have this treatment, the one tablet for a few weeks, with a 100% clearance rate. We know it exists.

[can-do-man]

Oh my

[HectorSF]

'the cure could arrive more quickly if Gilead cooperated with its competitor. '

First is there anyone here who has been on this community more than a few months that doesn't know that there is NO 100% cure for hepatitis C for all people? Isn't it obviously that SVR depends an many factors including genotype, amount of fibrosis/cirrhosis, how long they treat for, the drugs taken, the ability to tolerate side effects etc etc.

So as we all know that is NO one cure for everyone's hepatitis C. So why keep promoting the falsehood that if only Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir are combined we would all be SVR? "THE CURE" Anybody who knows anything about hep C and treatment knows this is false on the face of it.
And the falsehoods, misinformation, lack of basic knowledge of Sofosbuvir how it works with Ribavirin or GS-5885 or peg-IFN/RBV, and the data sets of all the trials we already have...

Actually I have to admit it is pretty funny that people can get all worked up about nothing. I guess the less some people know about a subject the more sure there are in their self righteousness. 'Don't bother me with the facts cause I having such a fun time ranting and raving'. Fine rant and rave on the Social side where is belongs. This is not a medical issue it is a political crusade it should be posted in the proper community.

Hector, I thought that Sofosbuvir does not work by itseld. Right now, to be succesful it needs to be combined also with Ribavirin.
Not true.
First it does work by itself, BUT the SRV rate is poor. 60% in treatment naive so no one is going to use it that way.
Secondly, Sofosbuvir has been combined with many drugs not just Ribavirin. Sofobuvir + Ribavirin is the treatment for genotypes 2/3 ONLY not genotype 1, so how could it be only used with Ribavirin? Did anyone promoting this political agenda even think of reading one article of Sofosbuvir and its different therapies for different genotypes? Apparently not.

Although only for 12 weeks it is still toxic
Toxic? What does toxic mean? Compared to what? Interferon? Interferon and Ribavirin? Interferon and Ribavirin and a PI? Seriously?

I think that Margaret is pushing for the combination without the Riba and Interferon
Why do they think they are trials with GS-5885 and other antivirals?

It was ready to go, everything had fantastic results, but Gilead is more interested in the money. And I do not buy the idea that they are responsible to their shareholders as they would not exist without us, the patients. So they are responsible to us to start with

'Gilead is more interested in money than who'? Bristol-Myers Squibb a global pharma company with more than 31 billion in assets and 28,000 employees? I don't think that got their billions from getting away medicine.  Last time I looked this is a capitalistic system. If you are interested in changing it best of luck. Until then it is going to be difficult because every drug, medical treatment and doctor (and every other commodity) costs money to obtain. This isn't anything new either.

I am forced to treat with a combination which is not in my best interest at the same time when a better option was in fact available but greed took precedence
Greed is something new? Ever hear of the fiscal crises we are still trying to recover from?
It is not in the interest of people infected with hepatitis C to have more effective, shorter treatment duration and minimal side effects? So we should just stay with peg-interferon and ribavirin? Which by the way, still costs a lot of money. I didn't understand what is being promoted as the answer? Waiting until all drugs are no cost and medical tests and doctors fees are free too? I don't thing any of us will live to see that day.

The whole agreement is based of false information with no knowledge of the one study that all this is based on. It is a total fabrication yet people rather spend there time discussion something they know nothing about so they can get all righteous and be indignant. I guess people are bored and have nothing better to do.

All I can say is read the studies if you want to truth. If not, feel free to rant and rave against the evils of money on the Social side, not here on the medical side where people are looking for tangible help.

Myself and others are trying to tangibly help either ourselves or others get the best care possible to beat hep C before suffering the affects of advanced liver disease. I prefer to offer whatever help I can to others if they want it rather than to post my political beliefs about capitalism and the evil empire. While it might make me feel happier to get it off my chest it doesn't help one person who was just told they have hepatitis C, or is treating for the first time, or finds out they have cirrhosis. In my opinion there are plenty of forums on the Internet to promote all different types of causes. Over the years there have been so many people that have come here knowing little and in time because experts in treating and curing their hep C. It is a beautiful thing to see when we see the post of someone we have known for a long time on here say they have achieved SRV. I miss many of them but I know they have gone back to their lives and are living free of hep C which is the whole point of treatment. To me that is what makes this place wonderful in my opinion. So many have been cured here over the years. I believe that is what is community it for. To share our experiences and knowledge to help others on the journey that maybe we have already taken.

Hector.