A Cure in *8 Weeks* with Upcoming Sovaldi/Ledipasvir Treatment

[Hep Editors]

Just eight weeks of treatment with the fixed-dose combination tablet of Gilead Sciences’ Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and ledipasvir can cure over 90 percent of non-cirrhotic people with genotype 1 of hepatitis C virus.

Keep a lookout for the new combo this October, when it’s being pitched for FDA approval.

For more information: http://www.hepmag.com/articles/ION_3_2501_25491.shtml

[rainbowray]

If the Sovaldi/Ribavirin combo I am currently doing does not work, I will ask for this treatment quickly. Having a not-give up attitude and a plan-B in effect is my motto now. I am half way with a 24 week plan, undetected at week 3 so looks hopeful.

[Mike]

Unfortunately, if an individual fails to attain a sustained virological response or relapses on a Sovaldi-based treatment, there is no research or protocols supporting re-treatment with another Sovaldi-based treatment regime.

This means that physicians  don't have second options if a Sovaldi-based treatment fails and insurance companies, as expected, will not support re-treatment without sound research to support efficacy.

This is because Sovaldi is so new, that there have not been any studies or completed clinical trials on response rates for those who did not attain a SVR during the first treatment.

[rainbowray]

Insurance companies paid for re-treatment of failures with the old regimens, cause no other treatments were around. There are more combos to be screened, non Sovaldi and with Sovaldi.  Seems the people being treated now ARE the case studies for reference. They have to treat. The plug is that the wonder drugs are non-failure and when it does fail at times, they cannot just say "oh sorry"  Patients just need to be assertive and believe.

[Mike]

Yes. There is a large group of individuals who finished treatment in June (12 week post treatment) and more added each month. Of these, 10% or so will have not obtained an SVR12 (some will also relapse). This is the group that will be studied for similarities and other markers that might answer why the treatment didn't work.

Some questions will be:

Does the virus develop a resistances to Sovaldi in some populations?
Did it mutate?
Will re-treatment with another protocol be more successful?
What risks might be associated with re-treatment with Sovaldi?
Are there comorbids (diabetes, HBP et. el.) that reduced the effect of the antivirals?

It's only a matter of time and there will be a combo that has a 100% cure rate, which should be in the not so distant future.