Author Topic: Viekira Pak (Read 24230 times)

pl1952 · « **on:** January 01, 2015, 07:30:51 pm »

Hey guys, what are you thoughts about Abbvie's Viekira Pak...I'm treatment naive, 1b..F1, VL500,000 and am told "not sick enough" for Harvoni...My Dr. suggested Abbvie (no riba needed)...12 weeks and I'll be able to get it. I think I'm going to go for it -- just wanted to hear your thoughts on this protocol...thanks

BattleTheBeast · « **Reply #1 on:** January 01, 2015, 08:14:13 pm »

Hi PL,

Welcome and Happy New Year! If it was me and I was in your situation I would seriously consider the treatment. You have to weigh the pluses and minuses. if you can get it and it will clear without the RibV I would do it before you end up with cirrhosis. It's worth a shot in my opinion but you have to decide that for yourself.

Just knowing how crappy I have felt with cirrhosis, I wish I would have had the opportunity before it got to F4 with me.

All the new medications are just that new, more are coming soon so it's really up to you and your doctor to decide.

I haven't heard anyone else mention they have started it yet so I can't share any insight into their feedback on side effects.

Mel

pl1952 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 01, 2015, 08:33:22 pm »

Hey Mel, thanks for the response. I'm seriously considering it and was hoping that maybe those that were on this trial might chime in here as well with regard to whether they cleared at the end of their treatment, how were the symptoms, etc. I'm not having any success with regard to finding these "real life" results online..Mel, even though I"m not cirrhotic, the fatigue is debilitating, so I have to do something.

Thanks for responding to me and Happy New Year!

BattleTheBeast · « **Reply #3 on:** January 01, 2015, 08:47:03 pm »

You are welcome,

I've heard it has good results just going to have to really be vigilant, it's a lot of pills to take every day, you have to be even more careful with interactions but it's had good results on a small group tested with 1B from what I remember reading. I am pretty sure it was under a 100 people but they all achieved SVR.

I really hope you do well and get SVR, my ID doctor is actually putting patients who are denied coverage because they aren't "sick enough" into the clinical trials.

It's crazy to not allow patients to get the care they deserve because they aren't sick enough, that actually makes me sick inside.

Mel

pl1952 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2015, 09:10:21 pm »

Thank you Mel! I agree with you 100%..

dragonslayer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2015, 09:24:22 pm »

I wonder on what basis an insurer would determine someone is 'not sick enough' for Harvoni, but plenty sick enough for the abbvie cocktail.

pl1952 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2015, 09:46:49 pm »

You're right Dragonslayer...I've thought that...It comes down to what is going to be cheaper for the ins. company, at least in my case..

dragonslayer · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2015, 10:02:08 pm »

Quote from: pl1952 on January 01, 2015, 09:46:49 pm

You're right Dragonslayer...I've thought that...It comes down to what is going to be cheaper for the ins. company, at least in my case..

With your viral load and naive status, youd likely be a candidate for the 8wk Harvoni treatment giving you a cost of $63k. Ive read the Abbvie cost is around $83k, unless they have a good 8 wk option as well. I guess you were not eligible for 8 wk Harvoni for whatever reason giving the advantage to Abbvie.

Whats also interesting is that they use degree of sickness to disqualify you from the Harvoni, but should you be accepted for the Abbvie, degree of sickness all of a sudden becomes a non factor for them.. They hypocrisy of these companies knows no bounds. Best of luck in getting treated.. Im sure you will find a way.

pl1952 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2015, 10:34:33 pm »

Hi Dragonslayer, I thought I would have been a perfect candidate and I certainly would only have been on Harvoni for 8 weeks, but they are only taking F3 and F4 first...I mean I could battle it out and wait and wait, get the denials and go through the appeals, but I don't want to go into treatment like that and stressed out. I'm fatigued enough as it is...So I'm assuming that $83,000 price tag is not what my ins. co. is paying for AbbVie. It has to be cheaper than the $63,000 Harvoni price tag. There is no 8 week option for Viekira...It's 12 weeks, without riba..

Thanks for your input and well wishes! Happy New Year!

dragonslayer · « **Reply #9 on:** January 01, 2015, 10:49:06 pm »

Thanks for clarifying pl... May I ask you, who is your insurer?

Rubye · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2015, 12:58:28 am »

Excellent points DragonSlayer! My sentiments exactly.

kate0b1 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2015, 06:28:18 am »

How many pills are in the daily pack? I don't know much about viekira, only that some insurances want to only cover it. Can your MD appeal for you, if you only should need 8 weeks? I was originally only approved 8weeks for harvoni, even though I have treated and relapsed. My MD agreed and then changed his mind after it was approved and appealed it and got the last 4 weeks approved with a doc to doc appeal

pl1952 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 02, 2015, 08:57:24 am »

My insurer is United Healthcare. I've seen some get Harvoni and some don't -- its all due to if you meet their guidelines for treating hep c. I apparently don't...My Dr. can fight for me//.but now with the research I've been doing, it seems for me 12 weeks of Viekira might be better than the 8 weeks of Harvoni...Kate, you relapsed on Harvoni?

dragonslayer · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2015, 09:17:35 am »

Pl.. Kate can answer for herself, but Im positive she was NOT speaking about relapsing on Harvoni, but rather, on a prior treatment Its almost too early to even know if there are any real world relapsers yet on Harvoni, since the first date anybody could have begun treatment would have been 10/10/14, and even thats probably too early. I also think she wrote in another thread that the relapse was from earlier treatment.

United Healthcare seems to be very difficult to get approvals from according to their criteria. Im very lucky in that Im grade/stage 0-1, treatment naive, and likely infected since the early 70s, and was approved right away by my Ct. insurer without having had to file any appeals even.

kate0b1 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 02, 2015, 09:58:22 am »

Yikes, you are correct triple therapy last spring, (it's gross) I am hoping there will be no relapse for any of us in 2015.

rainbowray · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2015, 02:28:38 pm »

PL1952,
Viekira Pak supposedly cured 100% in trials for 1B. I will find out at end of this month if I relapse from Sovaldi/Ribavirin 24 month treatment. If I relapse, I will immediately go for the Viekira Pak with no hesitation. My Dr. agrees. Why fool around, just put in for it. So what if your F-2, if you wait symptoms just get worse and harder to overcome. Be assertive, if I had the option and Viekira Pak was approved 7 months ago it would be a no-brainer.

Rubye · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2015, 02:31:53 pm »

Hi Rainbow Ray,
I don't know if you can do the Viekira Pak if you've treated with Sovaldi. Some people say you can, some say you can't. Or maybe that applies to the Olysio only. Not sure, but I'm sure someone will be. It's worth checking out with your doctor.

rainbowray · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2015, 04:39:08 pm »

http://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/viekirapak_pi.pdf

Item 14--14.3 Pearl 11 was a study for previous treatment clients. Does not mention Sovaldi. Without Ribavirin was 100%

"The SVR rate for HCV GT1b-infected subjects
without cirrhosis treated with VIEKIRA PAK
without RBV for 12 weeks in PEARL-II (treatme
nt-experienced: null re
sponder, n=32; partial
responder, n=26; relapser, n=33) and PEAR
L-III (treatment-naïve, n=209) was 100%.

pl1952 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2015, 05:15:25 pm »

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm going to tell my Dr. let's go for it! I appreciate everyone taking the time to post -- it helped me finally make a decision! Happy New Year to us all!

dragonslayer · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2015, 05:23:51 pm »

Pl, congrats on making a decision. Youre lucky your gt 1B; I read that 1A patients must add ribavirin to the mix... not a pleasant prospect for many... Looking to hear good reports from you on treatment!

Lynn K · « **Reply #20 on:** January 02, 2015, 07:38:30 pm »

Hi kate0b1

You asked how many pills in Viekira Pak.

There are 4 different medicines a combo pill with 3 medicines and a second pill with one medicine. A patient would take 3 pills in the morning and 1 in the evening.

Here is an article with a pic of the package

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/12/22/business/pharmacy-deal-heralds-changed-landscape-for-hepatitis-drugs.html?referrer=

Best to all may we all make SVR in 2015

Red Hen · « **Reply #21 on:** January 08, 2015, 01:03:29 pm »

I am on week 12 of the Abb-Vie Viekira pak. I started on a drug trial for this back in October. It seems like a million years ago. I am type 1A so also taking ribavirin. It is a lot of pills to take but I am really lucky to have gotten on a drug trial, lucky the drug has been approved and, hopefully, lucky enough to have it keep working! Symptoms, which I suspect are mainly from the ribavirin, have mostly been itching and rashes to the point where I have to take a benadryl every night to be comfortable enough to sleep. Tiredness, some nausea at first and not feeling up for extended periods of work or socializing. Cranky, too!

kate0b1 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 09, 2015, 06:25:27 am »

thanks lynn for that info, (sorry i am just seeing it), at least it is well marked, I had a hellish time trying to remember how many/when to take my meds last time, its great only taking one pill now but if this was my only choice id be all over it, at least the package is dummy proof for those of us with foggy brains.

Lynn K · « **Reply #23 on:** January 09, 2015, 06:34:08 am »

I missed your genotype if you are 1b all you need is the Viekira pak I you don't have cirrhosis. But if you are 1a or 1b with cirrhosis you need to add Ribavirin

kate0b1 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 09, 2015, 06:37:28 am »

Lynn, i am 1a and on harvoni, i was mostly just curious about it after reading about express scrips only approving it. I am done week 3 today, that means labs next week (scared/nervous)

kate

Lynn K · « **Reply #25 on:** January 09, 2015, 06:39:01 am »

Hey

Keep Calm and Carry On!

;-)

kate0b1 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 09, 2015, 06:41:28 am »

will do, on that note I'm off to work where i don't have time to worry about myself lol

Maxlaw · « **Reply #27 on:** January 09, 2015, 10:14:46 pm »

Hello all. New to the forum and I thought I would chime in on the AbbVie drugs and Express Scripts because I have some experience with both. I am type 3a, non-cirrhotic, currently in a trial taking the next generation AbbVie NS3/4A protease inhibitor and NS5A protease inhibitor for 12 weeks with no RBV. These are the next generation of two of the drugs in the Viekira pak, which were approved only for 1a and 1b. These next gen drugs have shown strong potency and high barrier to resistance across all genotypes, but particularly against 3a (the trial I'm in is for GT 2 and 3). My VL went from 311K to under 25 in one week and UD in 4 weeks...and absolutely no side effects. PL, you initially asked for input about side effects from anyone who had taken the Viekira pak drugs in a trial. I don't have experience with those exact drugs, but the next gen drugs are a breeze. The phase IIb trial I'm in is to determine the most effective dosage, with the goal to combine the two drugs into a single pill of the most effective dosage in phase III. So hopefully these drugs will prove to be a highly effective pan-genotypic treatment that will be available to everyone sometime next year! Now, with respect to Express Scripts...Express Scripts is the PBM for UnitedHealthcare, my insurer, and as I'm sure you all know has been leading the fight against Gilead's pricing for Sovaldi and Harvoni. Although the price of Viekira pak came in just under the price of Sovaldi for 12 weeks, AbbVie signed an agreement with Express Scripts to provide Viekira pak for less than that (the exact amount has not been disclosed to my knowledge). Therefore, Express Scripts will cover Viekira pak and not Sovaldi/Harvoni for GT 1. They will still cover Sovaldi + RBV for GT 3. I was not approved for treatment because I didn't meet their guidelines based on the status of my disease (although I really didn't want to take RBV for 24 weeks anyway, but of course I would have). I was VERY lucky and blessed to have gotten in this trial. I wish everyone could get these drugs and be cured. Sigh...some day, soon I hope.

Red Hen · « **Reply #28 on:** January 10, 2015, 11:32:08 am »

Good to hear that Abb-Vie is trying to come up with some even better drugs! Being type 1A I have had to take 9 pills a day which includes 5 ribavirin pills for 12 weeks.(But, I'm almost done!) I've had great support from the drug company nurse and support from family and friends. I work from home, which has also helped a lot. The main problem with the Viekira pak and ribavirin, is that it takes a lot of attention to manage the pills if you aren't used to it. I don't think it would be a good choice for, say, a working single parent. But, for myself, I am glad to be on this trial and glad the drug was approved! My best wishes to you, Maxlaw, on the new drug trial and a cure in the near future.

Maxlaw · « **Reply #29 on:** January 10, 2015, 12:28:26 pm »

Hi Red Hen, and thank you for the best wishes! So you are currently in a trial for GT 1 taking the AbbVie drugs that are in Viekira pak plus ribavirin? Sounds like it with that many pills! I am taking 5 pills with no ribavirin...2 of the ABT-493 (next gen NS3/4A protease inhibitor to ABT-450, which is paritaprevir in the Viekira pak), and 3 of the ABT-530 (next gen NS5A inhibitor to ABT-267, which is ombitasvir in the Viekira pak). It is my understanding that AbbVie's plan is to co-formulate ABT-493 and ABT-530 into a single dosage in phase III trials for all genotypes, so yes they are definitely working on a single-dose, once a day, pan-genotypic treatment! I sure hope it comes to pass!

Wishing you and everyone else here SVR12 & 24 in 2015!! And if for some reason not this year, then 2016 for sure!

Now if big pharma and the insurance companies/pharmacy benefits manager would just all get on the same page to make this happen! The prospective of business and the prospective of patients' health don't seem to coincide on this issue of Hep C, do they? Sad.

--Max

culotta · « **Reply #30 on:** August 24, 2015, 09:35:49 am »

Quote from: pl1952 on January 01, 2015, 07:30:51 pm

Hey guys, what are you thoughts about Abbvie's Viekira Pak...I'm treatment naive, 1b..F1, VL500,000 and am told "not sick enough" for Harvoni...My Dr. suggested Abbvie (no riba needed)...12 weeks and I'll be able to get it. I think I'm going to go for it -- just wanted to hear your thoughts on this protocol...thanks

i did viekira for the 12 weeks was undected the whole time no major side effects. last blood work showed virus came back. not sure what happened now i guess im in a waiting game.

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Author Topic: Viekira Pak (Read 24230 times)