Forum Replies Created
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“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you can see all the kinds of things you can’t see from the center.”
– Kurt Vonnegut
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi Valerie,
We have seen others with high viral loads at 4 weeks but it needs further investigation by a doctor with experience of HCV treatment. They will be able to determine whether there is a cause such as a drug interaction or if you are just a slow responder and then recommend a suitable course of action to correct your particular situation.
Do you currently have a treating specialist with that experience?
If not, let us know as one of our NZ members should be able to advise who you can see.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi e,
I have no problem with the discussion of whether/how the TPP will be applied but I do believe we need to be discussing its implications here at a wider level than who is going to win in US domestic politics. Given the sway multinational big business holds over all political parties these days, who wins is only likely to change the spin rather than the substance of the agreement.
Actually I suspect that the TPP probably won’t make a huge difference to the importing of generics into the US. I’m quite sure that Big Pharma has enough influence at the moment to ensure that the US customs and FDA would strictly apply the available rules if they thought doing so was worthwhile against the current trickle. The potential bad publicity of them moving against sick US citizens just isn’t worth their while. And anyway, as you point out there are usually ways and means for individuals to get around those sort of problems.
The real issue is probably the use of the TPP by Big Pharma to restrict generics access into other countries or possibly out of the countries where they are currently manufactured. What happens if at some point in the future India or Bangladesh* becomes a member country and Gilead sues their government for allowing export of generics to countries where patents apply.
And while we are basically talking about HCV DAAs here, there are many other life saving medications that are or could become available in generic format but be restricted by the TPP at some point in the future.
* (Don’t laugh, stranger alliances have occurred)
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
There are bigger fish to fry than us importing generics.
Hi guys,
I realise that it is election year (my country too) but on this international site dedicated to the affordable cure of HCV the above and its impact on us is the point of discussion.
Perhaps partisan party politics relating to our individual countries would be better served on any number of other sites dedicated to it?
TIA
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Well, we may need to keep an eye out for a generic version of the cap, the brand name one costs about 50% more than FixHepC sourced treatments.
Not sure if my little bald spot has filled in yet but overall my hair does seem thicker and healthier since I commenced treatment.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Perhaps they will do the same as USA; make them technically illegal but allow them anyway.
No, from my reading of Vororo’s attachment regardless of what the government of a country legislates, a corporation (investor) can “sue” that government (investor state) via the private arbitrators for the actions of anyone (citizen/company/government) who detracts from the ability of the corporation to derive a profit.
So in our case, if one of us imports generics for our own use, the corporation can sue our government presumably for the profits that the corporation missed out on. For Sofosbuvir the government may have to pay the corporation up to the full $84k for every citizen who imports a 12 week course of this drug.
No government could afford to allow that to happen so they will not only legislate to prevent import of generics but will actively enforce that legislation against their own citizens. Being able to prove strict and non exclusionary enforcement is the only way that they will have any hope of a defence against the corporation during arbitration.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Wullie,
What wonderful news!
I just stood in front of the mirror with iPad in hand and it’s early days for me yet but I may hold off from investing in a Capillus 272™ Laser Cap.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Fantastic results Ariel!
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi Fretboard,
It is obvious that any eBay seller advertising Indian generic brands of Sofosbuvir for $40 per 28 tablet bottle is participating in an outright scam. While there could be some value in pointing out to new members that these things happen on the Internet and should be avoided, I don’t believe our assisting them to find the seller is in anyone’s best interests.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi Anna,
My clock tells me it is 3:50 am where I am now
and I rarely manage to ‘catch up’ fully.I also often see people on here at strange times for the timezone they are in so this seems to be a common issue on Tx. Dr James posted some suggestions that you may consider here http://fixhepc.com/forum/experts-corner/598-how-do-i-fix-my-insomnia.html#8330
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Thanks tweakmax, that made my evening!
(Given the overall patient profile involved, a few cardiac problems are probably par for the course but I suspect there have been no instances directly attributed to the Harvoni as yet or we would likely have heard)
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi hepCat and welcome,
Just as a quick summary for now. Assuming you do need a full 24 weeks treatment for now then you can participate in Redemption trials, which are still open, once as a 24 week patient. For the purposes of import you would need a 12 week script with one repeat. So you import the initial 12 weeks medication then use the repeat for the second 12 weeks. I’m not totally familiar with the US import requirements but know that for myself in Australia last year, although I was only able to import 12 weeks at a time, I didn’t need to wait until the first batch ran out to get the second batch. No doubt one of our US members can provide further input.
If you are keen on the Redemption trial then your best move is to make contact with help@fixhepc.com and ask their advice.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
It’s not about the receptors but the signaling (or lack of) from the receptors.
But it is about the receptors in the context of the study linked in the OP. The issue is that HCV causes development of extra CB1 receptors in the liver. These extra receptors are responding to THC resulting in increased levels of steatosis and associated fibrosis. In fact part of the feedback loop that appears to be operating is that fibrosis causes increased CB1 expression which in turn causes more fibrosis due to THC exposure. Thus it is definitely not a process that is dynamic and in equilibrium. The take home message from the study seems to be that it would probably be advisable to avoid the use of marijuana if you have HCV rather than that you should try to ameliorate the situation by regulating glucose levels. The latter is a different argument.
Your other links about studies into the harmful effects of marijuana use all cite daily, heavy or high potency users. They are valid in that context but less so with regard to the contributors to this thread who from my reading don’t appear to be heavy ‘stoners’, at least these days.
Instead mostly they appear to be people investigating and discussing the above issue in the context of their health and/or the use of social vices in a manner that will be least damaging to their livers both pre and post HCV treatment. Everything we do in life is subject to a risk/benefit analysis whether we recognise it or not.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
Hi GF,
Three month history of their share price. The interesting point is that the increase in price over that period until this week was due to $8 billion in share buybacks they made rather than driven by perceived market value. This depleted their cash reserves by $4.9b while resulting in no gain in net overall value of the business.
Also, Harvoni sales were down 16% against the same period last year. Some of that will be due to competition from the likes of Merck but those around the world sourcing and using generics will have contributed too.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
