This page is an archive. Its content may no longer be accurate and was last updated on the original publication date. It is intended for reference and as a historical record only. For hep C questions, call Help4Hep BC at 1-888-411-7578.
Zepatier™ (grazoprevir / elbasvir [± ribavirin])
Merck’s combo was approved by the FDA in January:
http://www.mercknewsroom.com/news-release/prescription-medicine-news/merck-receives-fda-approval-zepatier-elbasvir-and-grazoprevi
and was also approved in Canada for genotypes 1, 3 and 4 in early February:
http://hepcbc.bchep.org/2016/02/merck-receives-approval-of-zepatier-elbasvirgrazoprevir-in-canada-for-the-treatment-of-chronic-hepatitis-c-for-patients-with-genotype-1-3-or-4-infection-following-priority-review/
Zepatier can be prescribed with or without ribavirin for genotypes 1 & 4 for between 8 and 16 weeks (depending on genotype, disease severity and previous treatment history).
Zepatier can also be prescribed for genotype 3 [treatment naive] patients with sofsobuvir for 12 weeks.
If you have had, have or are affected by hepatitis C, whatever your genotype, whether or not you have been treated, or if you support someone with HepC, we would love to have your input and your opinion! What do you think? Should this new hepatitis C combo be made available in BC?. Please let us know between March 24th and April 15th by providing your input here (follow instructions below):
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A Questionnaire for Patients and Caregivers to submit to Patient Group HepCBC.
HepCBC will put all the responses together and submit to BC PharmaCare as part of an application for reimbursement of this drug.
DIRECTIONS:
A – Be sure to read background info first at here.
B – Read the questions below.
C – Put your answers into the Body of an email OR email with a Word file attachment. Email to this spam-free address: office DOT hepcbc AT gmail DOT com BEFORE MIDNIGHT on Sunday, April 15th, 2016.
D – Both PATIENTS and/or their CAREGIVERS may submit. If you are a patient’s CAREGIVER, please identify as such (in Question 2) and fill out the questions to the best of your ability from your own point of view.
THE QUESTIONS:
(1) Disclose any possible conflicts of interest such as financial support from the pharmaceutical industry [e.g., educational or research grants, honouraria, gifts, and salary], as well as affiliations or personal or commercial relationships with drug manufacturers or other interest groups.) The names of all manufacturers providing funding should be listed, not just the manufacturer of the drug under review. You can still answer the questions if you have a conflict of interest. We just need to know, that’s all. List here…
(2) ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO…
• has hepatitis C?
• had hepatitis C but was cured?
• is or has been a caregiver of someone with hepatitis C?
If so please tell us which of the above.
If not, tell why you are interested in Zepatier™.
(3) DAILY LIFE…
Describe how hepatitis C affects (or did affect) your day-to-day life. You don’t have to spend too much time on this as we have lots of this data from past submissions, but if you want, please feel free to share as much as you’d like.
(4) ABOUT YOU…
What is your age and gender, your degree of liver damage (or cirrhosis) if known, or co-infections? How many years have you had hepatitis C (if known) and when were you diagnosed? What genotype are you? Did you achieve SVR (cure)? and if so how long ago did this happen?
(5) HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN Zepatier™?
If so, when, and how long did your treatment with Zepatier™ last? Was it successful?
Did you experience any adverse events (side-effects) with Zepatier™? If so, how serious were they?
(6) OTHER TREATMENT(S):
Have you ever taken (or are you now taking) another treatment for hepatitis C?
When did you take it, how long did your treatment last, and did you experience any adverse events (side-effects)? If so, how serious were they? Please list all of the drugs or treatments and tell us about your experience with each treatment.
(7) ACCESS PROBLEMS:
Have you experienced difficulty in accessing Zepatier™ due to it not being covered by BC Pharmacare? If so, explain what you did about this and how this experience affected your life.
(8) WHY/WHY NOT TO REIMBURSE?
Please tell us why you believe Zepatier™ should be included in the BC PharmaCare program.
Why should Zepatier™ be covered or reimbursed (or why not)?
Thanks! Now please…
Put your answers into the Body of an email OR email with a Word file attachment. Email to this spam-free address: office DOT hepcbc AT gmail DOT com BEFORE MIDNIGHT on Sunday, April 15th, 2016.
You will receive a thank-you email from us acknowledging your submission soon (not automatic – we are real people [volunteers]) on this end!!)