VX-950 Oral Hepatitis C Protease Inhibitor
The Vertex VX-950 does look impressive even at this early stage of clinical trials. I wouldn’t hold your breath but it looks worthy of keeping an eye on.
Data announced today by Vertex show that VX-950, an investigational hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor, dosed in combination with pegylated interferon alfa-2a , achieved a rapid and dramatic reduction in viral RNA levels in patients with genotype 1 HCV infection.
March 8th, 2006 at 7:26 am
I am interested in this new drug and wish to have more information on how to obtain a trial sample or be part of a trail study. My work phone is 270-798-4118.
March 17th, 2006 at 3:28 am
I have HVC, 3-rd phase. I have 1,500.000 virusemia and after one year of interferon alpha with ribavirine and 3 months of pagyntron with copegus I have now 400.000 virusemia. I am 52 years old/female. I have some problems with tyroida and a well-justified depresion because I lost my 20 years old sun in 1999. I have frequent mygrenas and I am a fighter.
March 19th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Hey there, sorry bout your boy; keep fighting too! I’m a lot older than you kiddo but refuse to do the guinea pig deal. I did allow those medical folk to convince me to do the A & B vacines . Ha! guess what! my Liver increased in size from 17m to 19m
I don’t think my liver liked that vacine. I’ll try and wait for that vertex 950 that clears Hep c up in two weeks. Ha! do you think the medical/pharm community will really like something that simple.
August 31st, 2006 at 10:00 am
This is more than just a shot in the dark. I have been watching the progress of this drug since it came out. Even the test trials prior to the “fast track” approval of the FDA showed a 100% initial response for clearing the Hep C virus. Since then both in Europe and the US the drug ( which has had many names in the past 2 years) is still holding its own. Johnson and Johnson is going to back the venture and I believe this is the golden bullet that we have been looking for. So I am holding my breath. I told my doctors at the Mayo back last year to keep an eye on this one and they are even now jumping in with both feet. They told me not to hold my breath a year ago but are singing a different tune.
September 10th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
I am sorry to hear about your son’s passing. If that didn’t cause you to become depressed, Nothing, even testing Positive for hep c, all else is MOOOOOT. (really doesn’t matter - anymore). I am sorry to say something similar, but I think my form of depression started in 1984 when my wife committed suicied, and in 1986 my 15 yr. old son was killed by a 19 yr. old drunk driver, who WAS driving on a Revoked license for Drunk driving, and received only 6 mos. behind bars. Most, of the rest is history.
Sincerly touched w/emotions. Rafael ala: sorebones
October 3rd, 2006 at 11:21 pm
Please do not get too excited about the NEW Vertex -950. If you dig a bit deeper, it still has Interferon in it. That is NOT the magic bullet that we have been waiting for. The TRUE PROTEASE INHIBITOR has no Interferon in it; is Oral; has NO sides; and is not based upon KILLING of ANY CELLS.
Many pharmacueticals are yelling loudly but without much detail. ASK the magic question: DOES YOUR NEW TREATMENT HAVE INTERFERON IN IT?
The only acceptable answer is: NO !
Save your other organs and do yourself a favor. Do not treat unless you are dying NOW. Otherwise, WAIT. The REAL Protease Inhibitor is coming.
Sherry T
October 4th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Hi SherryT.
I think you may be a little confused.
There are 2 main reasons that Interferon is given along with VX-950. Firstly it is the quickest way to FDA approval by including it with drugs that are currently lincensed. Secondky I fear you fail to give credit to how dynamic and sneaky the hep c virus is, it is very quick to mutate which means that any drug is aiming at a constantly moving target. The Interferon will still need to be used to mop up the small number of virus that muate their way out of vx-950’s effectiveness.
>Do not treat unless you are dying NOW
The trick is to treat before you are dying
If you are looking to drop the odd pill with no side effectes and defeat something as smart [or dumb depending on how you look at it] as the hep c virus then I promise you me and you both will be long dead before that happens.
October 7th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
I went on the white horse /rib 48wks not the greatest treatment but i stuck with it.It did the usual supressed then came back.Ive been watching vx-950 since before I went on the tx.Which incidently i had to fight for …my liver wasnt bad enough.I seriously think it has more than a chance of being what we are waiting for.And if they will hurry up and get to the trials for lapsed responders I will be beating down the door with a battering ram,to give it a try. If you wait for someone else to try something first just incase it doesnt work then I think that is sad .We have this minor problem that we could all become pioneers in eradication of.Personnally I would rather die trying to get rid of, than die of the virus.
December 9th, 2006 at 8:48 am
The tricky part of HEP C is that it hijacks the cells and slices and dices the protease coat and uses that to not only reproduce itself, but also to block the immune cells from alerting your immune system of the invader. Like cutting the wires to your alarm system. Interferon simply tried to attack the HEP C cells and overwhelm them. The beauty of VX-950 is that it took 2 years of molecule by molecule trials to find one that would fit into the HEP C protease receptor. This is a two fold advantage. First, it inhibits the cells from reproducing, second, it now allows the normal immune cells to alert the immune system of the invader and begin the normal attack. Interferon is just a synthetic form of your immune cells, so the dual treatment just reinforces the body’s attack. Dual treatment also speeds up the fast track process by using an industry accepted drug. This is the only way to kill this nasty little bugger, so don’t wait too long for something better to come around.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Latest results [Dec13 06] continue to look good for type 1 . 88% efective at 24 weeks I don’t think we will see [SVR] numbers for months. New study without Riboviarin is just starting.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Does anybody know about signal to cut off ratios ??? I am at 22.5 what does it mean ?? high ?? low ??
December 19th, 2006 at 11:56 am
Does anyone have any idea when VX-950 will be available to the public?
December 23rd, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Maybe in 08
February 5th, 2007 at 11:14 am
you will find a lot of great info at the website above. It has saved my sanity.
February 10th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I’m looking down the gun barrel of 48-72 weeks of being sick and most likely depressed as well with current treatment options. A 45% chance of cure with current treatment and no guarentess it won’t come back. Sounds like something out a horror story to me!?!?! The research I’ve done and promising trials that are occuring with VX-950 gave me the strength to consider not starting this treatment.
February 13th, 2007 at 8:56 am
I have done the treatment twice to no avail. i am in that scarey group of genotype 1.. i am waiting for this protease inhibitor (vx950) to hurry up & come on. I am ready to be rid of this crap & the depressions that comes along with it! Thanks for listening!
February 13th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Taz, there’s hope!
I just got the call (2/13/07) from my drug trial admin that my results are un-blinded. After the first 8 days my viral count went from over 4,000,000 to “negative.” I started back on Sept 11th 2006 with VX 950 (the real thing, as it was recently revealed) peginterferon and ribavirin. The VX 950 lasted 12 weeks and I’ll finish out the other two at 24 wks. The anti-depressant Lexapro will last a few weeks longer.
More than a year ago I went to a liver guy who gave me the ‘regular’ 40% odds (which I was ready to accept as “the best I could do” except we had a personality clash). I serendipitously stumbled into a clinical trial of VX 950, which I had to wait all summer to begin. I’m glad I did. My trial admin says my results are the best they’ve seen so far. I’m 59 years old. As soon as I have a little spare cash I’ll buy stock!
April 13th, 2007 at 8:47 am
How does someone get into the trials for VX 950? My 52-yr old daughter is a type 1 non-responder and is feeling sicker and giving up hope. I don’t think she can “wait” 5 years until it’s on the market–as mentioned by a doctor at Mayo’s. My encouragement to all of you fighting this mean disease.
May 15th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I am a 69 yr old male and was diagnosed with Hep C about 9 years ago.
Participated in a study at the time where peginterferon was being tested
in the final stage before FDa approval. Went through that regimen but was on the regular treatment of interferon and ribovirin and it did not work.
After peg interferon was approved I went through that regimen and again, it did not work. Both times (9 months for each) I experienced side effects
that were not fun at all. I have an opportunity to participate in the VX 950
study but don’t know whether I want to go through the side effects again.
Since the treatment still involves interferon and ribovirin along with the
VX 950 can someone tell me what , if any, side effects will VX 950 give in addition to what is experienced from the peg interferon and ribovirin.
May 17th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
You shouldn’t do this.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:57 am
I have had Hepititis C for 21 yrs this July. as I had 22 units of blood transfused to save my life, 37 units of platelets. After the birth of my son. I found out in 1999 that I had Hep C geno type 1 and was devistated at the time. I have gone through treatment for Hep C Pegintron and Ribiverion. It showed no sign of the virus at the six month mark of the 48 wks of treatment. At the end of the treatment it showed that I had 100 to 1000 viral load. I am waiting for a mircle drug, I don’t know a lot about this new drug yet. What I have read so far sounds promising. I am turning 50 this year. My viral load is at 4,000.000 or so, but the good thing is my enzyme levels stay just barley above the nomal limits.
June 10th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
i need some info on hep c type one, im by no means ignorant ive just found out a friend has this type. she says she had cold sores, her girl friend kissed her then performed oral and thats how she ended up with the symptoms, is this possible as i am very sceptical. her partner is a (previous)heroin addict and aparently clear. please advise me,
June 11th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Stacy wonders how hepatitis C is spread.
The virus that causes hepatitis C needs blood to blood exposure. The method you talk about (oral sex) is a very unlikely source of spread. Monogamous couples where one partner has hep c and the other does not have either no or very low transmission rates .. to the point that protection (read condom use) in that situation is not indicated.
Recognized methods of transmission are:
IV drug use where there is sharing of equipment (even once .. transmission rates in this situation are EXTREMELY high).
Receiving clotting factors prior to 1987.
Receiving blood transfusion or solid organ donation before July 1992.
Receiving long term kidney dialysis.
Certain occupations where one may be exposed to other peoples blood (health care workers, emergancy responders, police).
Sharing of hygiene articles like razors or toothbrushes with people who have hepatitis c.
Having rough sex or sex where blood to blood exposure may occur can spread hep c but appears more likely if there are multiple partners.
If you are concerned about this regards your own safety and fear you may have been exposed ask your doctor for appropriate testing.
Here is a link to the CDC saite that has a LOT of info on hep C–>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/index.htm
June 20th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
The one transmission type no-one ever mentions is those air-gun injectors they use in the military for inoculations. If you move at the moment of injection it’ll cut you, and blow back drops of blood onto the injector nozzle.
Ready to inject into the next guy in line.
JG
July 5th, 2007 at 4:38 am
How do you get into the vx950 Clinical Trials? Someone please advise.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Jean asks >>How do you get into the vx950 Clinical Trials? Someone please advise. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:12 am
After the last Clinical Trial how long would it take for approval ? I heard it would be 2008 but, how far into 2008?
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:54 am
In order to qualify for the Clinical Trials would you have had to been on some prior treatment, also would you have had to have a liver biopsy? What are some of the qualifications? I hear they are doing another clinical trial for the 4th quarter of 2007 does anyone know what state that will be in or any information on this?
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:49 pm
At the web site I sent (http://clinicaltrials.gov/), on the left hand side of the page where it says “Resource information” you will find a link that says “understanding clinical trails”. Click there and read the information available there and you may have a better grasp of the mechanics of such things.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:13 am
i caught type 1 from a needle stick in 1996. after 6 months went on plain interferon study…when ribaviren came available,did 3 years in interferon and ribaviren cleared virus and relapsed. enzymes were always normal for 11 years. doctor said as long as enzymes were so low,no damage was occurring… then had sonogram and biopsy,found out liver was scarring and enlarged graded stage 2….viral load at 69 million after 10 years. doctor now wants to try vx 950 or scherings bocephevir(sic)…anyone know about choosing one over the other?? anyone else been told normal enzymes mean no damage is occurring?? stan
December 19th, 2007 at 11:55 am
I attend a support group & the general consensus is that you can’t tell anything about the condition of your liver by lab tests/blood work. Several of my fellow HCV friends have told me their lab work looked great, but some found they were in the upper to later stages of cirrhosis after their biopsies.
The ONLY true way to tell what condition your liver is in is to have a liver biopsy; sonograms give some idea of scarring as well, but the “gold standard” is a biopsy. I believe there is a non-invasive test being developed (already being used?) for those people who do not wish to undergo a biopsy but if fibrosis/cirrhosis is a concern, I strongly suggest a liver biopsy.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
i have hep c for now 30 years tried pegintron inter, 2 time i failed had to stop very low blood waiting for vertex will this new drug make my blood go low so I have to stop treatment I have chiroses I am very scared that cancer would would set in my liver ,can anyone tell me if there is a clinical trial in montreal what is the normal alpha feto protein I have 6.8 that how the doctor checks fo cancer in the blood I am running after time I feel I am at the very end when is this vertex be available we are in 2008 we have waited long enough.anyone can tell me which would be the best treatment to try so many are coming out
September 10th, 2009 at 6:15 am
I did the vx-950, I am clear so far 2 months after tx (never been clear at 2 mo post tx before)… You do vx 950 for 12 weeks and it makes you a very grumpy person for about 1.5 hours after each pill which you take 3 times a day. This was my 4th round of tx and I am a 1a… I say it is very worth it. I am very strong and I refuse to go down without a fight!
S
September 18th, 2009 at 8:02 am
ok… just did 2.5 mo bloodwork… its back… nothing works.