Chapter 75 The first month of clinical phase II of icofovir!
What is interferon?
There are currently two options for treating chronic hepatitis B around the world.
1. The purpose of taking antiviral drugs is to inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus, thereby reducing the damage caused by the virus to the liver.
Among the first-line drugs are: tenofovir alafenamide, tenofovir disoproxil tablets, and entecavir.
Entecavir is the oldest generation product among them. Due to its low price and long history, it currently has the highest coverage rate.
Tenofovir disoproxil tablets are a new drug that has been released in recent years. It has a high inhibitory effect on hepatitis B virus, but it is nephrotoxic and may cause kidney problems in patients.
Tenofovir alafenamide is the second generation of Tenofovir, commonly known as TAF. The second generation of Tenofovir reduces kidney damage by 75% on the basis of the first generation of Tenofovir. It is currently the top treatment for hepatitis B. drug.
However, these drugs can only inhibit virus replication and cannot cure it.
The only way to achieve a cure is to rely on interferon - recombinant human interferon α2b.
In fact, interferon is not specific for hepatitis B, but is widely used in various major diseases such as leukemia, tumors, and AIDS.
The core of its treatment is to use interferon to stimulate the body's own immune system for a long time, and to eliminate various viruses through the body's own immune system.
As far as hepatitis B treatment is concerned, curing hepatitis B is not a short-term process. Once interferon injections are started, the treatment time will almost be as long as one year.
Long-term immune system hyperactivity will often cause the body to be in a state of fever, and may even damage multiple organs such as the kidneys and heart.
So,
If interferon is used to treat hepatitis B, it generally needs to be done before the age of 40. The older you are, the higher the risk.
In addition, interferon is expensive, costing more than 40,000 yuan a year and cannot be reimbursed. At the same time, the chance of clinical cure with interferon is only about 20%.
This makes interferon not recommended medically.
Despite this, countless patients still take huge risks to try interferon every year.
The reason is simply that I hope to get rid of hepatitis B completely.
Xu Bo is such a person, he wants to give it a try.
Today is exactly one year since he was injected with interferon. Early in the morning, he excitedly came to the hospital to draw blood, but the results...
were not satisfactory.
Director Chen Wen gently moved the frame on the bridge of his nose and shook his head slightly:
"Xu Bo, the result of two and a half (the name of the hepatitis B test project) is still 135 Xiao Sanyang , from a medical point of view, you are still a chronic hepatitis B patient.”
Xu Bo sighed helplessly. The moment he got the test results, he actually knew the answer himself.
For twenty years, the results of the two and a half pairs have been the same every time. The first, third, and fifth indicators are positive, commonly known as the small three yangs.
I originally thought that after a year of interferon injection, the goddess of luck would favor me, but the goddess of luck slapped me again, abandoning me as ruthlessly as she did more than 20 years ago.
He adjusted his mood slightly and asked bitterly:
"Director Chen, do you think it is necessary for me to continue injecting interferon in the future?"
"It's not necessary."
Chen Wen placed the inspection report on the table and looked at Xu Bo.
“Your hepatitis B DNA virus count has dropped below the detection line, and hepatitis B surface antigen has also dropped below 100 units. If this situation has been going on for a year and the interferon has not turned negative, then there is no need to continue taking the vaccine. It’s gone.”
“Not to mention the waste of time and money, the longer the time, the greater the side effects of interferon!” Xu Bo sighed heavily again.
After a moment, he said in a low voice:
"Director, the only way is to continue taking antiviral drugs?"
"In the end, will I have to take drugs for life?"
< br>Chen Wen was also quite helpless.
At this moment, he suddenly thought of the innovative drug code-named "QS-001" that Dean Zhou mentioned yesterday.
Last night, he deliberately read the clinical data of the first phase of the new drug "QS-001". After careful analysis, he also felt that although "QS-001" is somewhat cytotoxic, this novel idea may indeed be used in the treatment of cancer. Open up another channel in the direction of curing hepatitis B.
Seeing Xu Bo's eager eyes, after thinking for a moment, he slowly said:
"There is really no good way at present. You know, there is no drug in the world that can say that it is 100% Cure hepatitis B. "
"However, our country has recently launched a 'Starlight Project', and there is a drug in it that I think is pretty good..."
As he spoke, Chen Wen gave Xu details. Bo introduced the drug mechanism and cytotoxicity of "Acofovir".
Ten minutes later,
Xu Bo, who was not even afraid of the side effects of interferon, nodded.
"Okay, Director Chen, even if there is a glimmer of hope, I am still willing to give it a try!"
It must be said that the doctor's explanation and recommendation still play an extremely critical role. With his explanation and recommendation, and with the already high trial subsidy, the second clinical phase of "Ecofovir" was finally launched smoothly.
One week later, compared to only five patients recruited in the first week, this week there were twelve patients willing to participate in the second phase of the clinical trial of "Ecofovir".
Zhang Yang was a little moved when he learned that it was Dean Zhou who had given so much help, and immediately launched a clinical trial with a group of 15 people.
The planned number of patients in the second phase of the "Ecofovir" clinical trial is 125. After the first batch of 15 people started, the second batch of patients was successfully formed a week later.
The thirty patients in front of them are all under 35 years old. Some of their family conditions are not very good. They value the reward of 20,000 yuan. More, like Xu Bo, they still interfere. For patients whose symptoms have not turned negative, they are willing to make a last-ditch attempt.
Dean Zhou has been paying attention to the progress of the "Ecofuvir" project, and he couldn't help but feel happy when he saw that two trial groups were successfully launched in just two weeks.
“It’s finally officially launched, but we can’t relax and continue to help them.”
"Once they stop, I'm afraid it will be difficult for them to recruit patients!"
Dean Zhou made a decision secretly, but before he could continue the arrangements, a shocking news suddenly appeared.
Only one month after the first batch of "Ecofovir" test subjects, a patient turned negative and was cured during a routine examination!
The news immediately attracted the attention of Dean Zhou, Feng Gang and Chen Wen. You must know that the second clinical phase is completely different from the first clinical phase.
There are normal subjects participating in the first clinical phase of the trial, and all participants in the second clinical phase are hepatitis B patients!
Has any hepatitis B patient turned negative? Is this a coincidence or not!
Is Tsingshan Pharmaceutical’s “Ecofovir” really effective? !
In the office of the clinical trial center, three people were sitting together in astonishment.
"Director Chen, is this patient named Xu Bo recommended by you?"
"Hurry up and tell me, what is his condition?!"
...
PS: Thanks to Explosive MA*** for the 500 coin reward!
(End of this chapter)