Hey Renee -
Trial participants are like the test pilots of the medical world - the unsung heroes. You took the risks and your success provides hope for all of us.
You should be proud.

Renee,

Dr. Nelson, in his disclosures, reports he takes money from Gillead (along with Pfizer, et al.). So he has a closer relationship than just reporting data to them. That type of financial relationship usually indicates a consulting arrangement between doc & pharma.

David Nelson is a shaker and mover in the HCV world. Google his name + HCV. I choose to think he may have good info but you may choose not to do that. And that's OK.

And yes, Slideguitar is right... kudos to you for being a study participant. That's great.

I knew salads where no good for me

Oh lawd, no comment. Well... ... ...

All Docs are in bed with drug companies, including your internist. They cannot invest in drug co that are paying them --conflict of interest. But they sure as hell can take $ from them. I am sure my doc is getting paid much more than me--the 'lab ratt.' It would be a conflict of interest unless he/she wants a jail cell beside Martha. You know--all the info they are sharing.

Hepcat, glad you believe your doc controls the hept C world. He may have a good info--but I believe my hept doc does too along with others.

Test pilot?? I have been following this drug since it was owned by pharmassitt and would have traveled out of state for this drug and was looking into just doing that days before I got the call. But I do appreciate the well wishes and appreciation when in fact I knew I hit the jack pot and carry some quilt.

It's still great you were in the study... kudos!

Kudos to both you and Renee, Hepcat!! I'm wondering why they didn't offer me that trial..... I've been researching trials recently and found the sofosbuvir trials (on the govt site) are for 'those that did not respond to interferon/riba and tx-naive' and for genos 2 & 3 'Who Participated in Prior Studies Evaluating GS-7977'. I did GS-5885 and 2 other drugs.... so that leaves me nowhere..... I don't see how I can be treated without a trial. I go back for my study visit next week.

I'm not sure Ganja-- I am a 1A and TX naive. There were only 8 people chosen at my site that treats thousands. I also heard they have not been given any word for any future trial there with this drug. (the reast of the 600) or any other time.

They are currrently working on an Abbott trial for cirrhotics ONLY.

It is almost like the coin has flipped and end stage is their target. My guess, get sofosbuvir to the market as fast as they can! or Abbott!

Keep us posted on your visit.

I truly hope that is the case in Canada soon as there has been nothing for Stage 4 non responders.
I keep selfishly thinking "Hey what about us? We need it most!"
We really are at our 11th hour.

hey kramer, there's nothing selfish about thinking 'what about me', and if there is, what's wrong with being selfish?

I'm actually paraphrasing the comment from the trial Dr. at Toronto Western. "Sorry no trials for you and you are the one who needs it most!" All he can offer me is Interferon and Draino.
I think he used to be the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld ...lol

Soup Nazi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNwbjcuQUv8

ImKramer, it seems a lot of talk goes around on this site about sofosbuvir and daclatasvir (or whatever new drug), and how nobody gives a shit about people with hep c, but when we started a White House Petition to get attention.... the only thing we get from other heppers is arguments like, that will not help....no heppers seem to get it, the more attention we get out there that there is a cure and this more attention can only benefits us. Out of 4 million with hepatitis c we can't get 100,000 brave enough to sign a petition to get this bullshit in front of white house. That is pathetic. Or we have heppers say,Gilead doesn't give a shit about a petition. Who the f-ck cares what Gilead thinks, they are f-cking up a cure for us. Margaret and her friends are sick with Hep too, and we are running out of energy,what did you think we are not sick! So it would benifit the people on this site, no matter if you are sick, treating, relpased, cured or dying to sign the petition at www.hepc-cured.org before March 20th before its to late to take a stand for yourself and speak up. It is about time someone spoke out for us and when she did all you seem to say go f-ck off because you scrutize the petition like we are quoting the bible! Kramer you bring a lot of great information to this site and I thank you for that, you help us all. So please do not take this personally, this seemed like a good place to write what I had to say. I don't know about you but I am tried of reading about people being used, as one previoust poster said, lab rats. Everyone needs to stand up for themself instead of bending over for their doctor and big Pharma. Sign the petition at www.hepc-cured.org

Oh yes then we hear we sign it before... yes but you signed a petition BUT NOT THE WHITE HOUSE PETITION there is a big difference.

Oh ....

I'm not a citizen of the USA so I cannot petition your White House.
Good luck with your signatures. I hope it works out for you.
HCV takes it's troll on us all and treatment is no bed of rosas.

What the message is Maleiz is that you are suspected of being a troll and so is Margaret. Personally, I choose to believe that you both are just two sick heppers trying to make a difference. (mdudley is Margaret Dudley, correct?)

I've been around here for over a year and realized quite awhile ago that all new people are suspected trolls, until proven otherwise.

It's a damn shame too. Lots of good folks get dismissed.

Best to you,
HepCat