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Issue # 84     

January 2015 
In This Issue
Support Groups
20 Year Anniversary
Healthy Choices
New HCV Treatment
Articles of Interest
HCV/HIV Coinfection
Patient Advocate Network
New Director of Community Outreach
Financial Resources for HCV Treatment
Clinical Trials
Desserts & Delights
Quick Links

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Colorado Hepatitis C Support Groups

 

For individuals infected with hepatitis C and family members affected by hepatitis C.  Free and confidential monthly meetings.  New members always welcome.  Please contact the leader before attending. 

 


Englewood
Englewood Library
1000 Englewood Pkwy.
Last Tuesday
6:30 - 8 pm

Beverly: (720) 231-2264

  
Lakewood
Shepherd of the Hills Church
11500 W. 20th
2nd Wednesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Betsy: (303) 940-4901

Boulder

YWCA
2222 14th St.
Main Floor Mtg. Rm.
2nd Wednesday
6 - 7:30 pm
Debbie: (303) 817-4938

 

Fort Collins
Poudre Valley Health Systems
2121 E. Harmony
3rd Floor
Last Wednesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Jerry: (970) 214-2912

 

For information regarding support groups in other states, please call our HelpLine at 800-522-HEPC (4372) 

 Dear Friend,


  Welcome to the January 2015 edition of
Connections!  
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Hep C Connection Celebrates 20 Years of Service 

 

2015 marks the 20th anniversary of Hep C Connection.  We are so grateful to Ann Jesse for her foresight and leadership in the effort to help patients with the hepatitis C virus.  She saw a need and didn't wait for someone else to fill it - she made it happen.  Since that time we've calmed fears, provided answers, found medical providers, and explained treatment options to many thousands of patients through our HelpLine, support groups, and educational materials.  We will spotlight our achievements in each e-newsletter this year, culminating with an anniversary celebration at October's Desserts & Delights, and then an announcement of an expanded direction in November.  Please watch this space as we show how the organization has transformed lives for twenty years!

Ring in the New Year with Good Liver Health 

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Let's plan to accomplish our 2015 New Year resolutions together!  Healthy lifestyle choices are important for everyone but, they're especially important for someone with a hepatitis C infection.

Some of the recommendations for individuals living with hepatitis C are to:
  • not drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use illicit drugs
  • be as physically active as possible without any pain
  • eat a low-fat, low cholesterol, low sodium, high-fiber diet with lots of fruits and vegetables
  • drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day
For additional recommendations on healthy living click here.

Don't just set a goal - make a plan.  For example, if you decide to set a goal to eat 3-5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, plan an hour every Sunday and Wednesday to wash, cut, and store ready-to-eat portions for the next few days.  We can do this and achieve our goals together!

FDA Approves New Treatment for Hepatitis C 

On December 19, Viekira Pak was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of hepatitis C for patients with a genotype 1 infection with or without cirrhosis.  Clinical trial results showed that the treatment was successful for 91 to 100 percent of patients.  The most common side effects reported were feeling tired, itching, feeling weak or lack of energy, nausea and trouble sleeping.

Viekira Pak includes two pills and may or may not be prescribed with ribavirin.  One pill contains ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir.  The second pill contains dasabuvir.  Ombitasvir, paritaprevir and dasabuvir work together to inhibit the growth of hepatitis C.  Ritonavir increases blood levels of paritaprevir.  The length of treatment may be 12 or 24 weeks.  The combination and length of treatment time must be determined by a physician.  Learn more about Viekira Pak here.  Call Hep C Connection's HelpLine at 1-800-HEPC(4372) for assistance locating a physician in your area.

Articles of Interest 

AbbVie Deal Heralds Changed Landscape for Hepatitis Drugs
12/22/2014 / Business Day / Andrew Pollack
Express Scripts, the largest pharmacy benefit management organization in the United States, negotiated a discounted price for Viekira Pak with AbbVie, the manufacturer of Viekira Pak.  In exchange for the discount, Express Scripts will offer Viekira Pak as its preferred drug to treat a hepatitis C genotype 1 infection to its 25 million members, regardless of the stage of liver disease.  The discount aims to increase the number of patients with access to treatment for hepatitis C and to decrease health care costs for employers.  Read the full article here.

Hepatitis C Treatment Breakthroughs
12/10/2014 / Everyday Health / Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Over the past two years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a handful of new regimens to treat patients with hepatitis C.  These new regimens had high rates of sustained virologic response among clinical trial participants.  The FDA will continue to review new regimens over the next few years, potentially approving even better treatment options.  Also over the past two years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has increased awareness of the importance of baby boomers getting tested for hepatitis C.  An increase in awareness and the improvement in treatment aim to dramatically decrease the prevalence of hepatitis C in the United States in the near future.  Read the full article here.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Receives Complete Response Letter from U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Daclatasvir, an Investigational Treatment for Hepatitis C
11/26/2014 / Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
In 2014, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) Company submitted a new drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of a new drug regimen that included daclatasvir and asunaprevir to treat hepatitis C.  However, in late November, the FDA responded to the application requesting additional data on the use of daclatasvir.  BMS will have to provide additional data with the application which delays the anticipated decision on approval or denial of the new regimen.  Read more on this announcement here.

Patients with HIV/HCV Coinfection Have Acesss to Harvoni in Colorado 

The Colorado AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) has recently added the hepatitis C (HCV) drug, Harvoni, to its drug formulary.  ADAP helps ensure that people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are uninsured and under-insured have access to medication.  Prior to adding Harvoni, patients with a HIV/HCV coinfection and with ADAP benefits had access to Sovaldi.  Sovaldi will remain on the formulary, however, there will be immediate access to Harvoni for 25 patients and potentially 60 patients based off of demand and funding.  Patients that do not have private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare will have top priority for drug coverage.  If you are coinfected with HIV and HCV but not enrolled in ADAP, check your eligibility here.

Patient Advocate Network 

Hep C Connection is in the process of recruiting patients for our new patient advocate network.  These volunteers may speak to state or Congressional legislators and reporters about the need to increase access to treatment for hepatitis C, so they need to be comfortable with this level of dialogue and with providing their names when they speak (cannot be anonymous).  We will provide all training and will determine your legislators, find the opportunities to speak, and work with you on messaging.  People who have been:
  • denied treatment by Colorado Medicaid because they do not have a fibrosis score of 3 or 4
  • denied treatment by their private insurance company because they do not meet prior authorization criteria
  • previously treated and want to increase access for all people

would make great advocates, but everyone is welcome.  Contact Nancy Steinfurth at 720-917-3965 or nsteinfurth@hepc-connection.org if interested in being a part of this advocacy effort.   

Meet Hep C Connection's New Director of Community Outreach  

We welcome Christopher Grano as Hep C Connection's new Director of Community Outreach!  Chris has worked in the nonprofit sector for many years, as the HIV Prevention Director at Northern Colorado AIDS Project in Fort Collins, and as an HIV/STI/HCV Prevention Specialist with Tri-County Health Department in Aurora.  He has also done sub-contract work for Hep C Connection educating in Larimer and Weld County jails.  He has also been active on the grassroots community level, having chaired both the Colorado HIV Prevention Advisory Committee and the Colorado HIV/AIDS Prevention Grant Program Advisory Committee.  He enjoys reading, writing, hiking, playing the violin, and spending time with his dogs Tilda and Fortinbras.  He is thrilled to be the newest member of the stellar team at Hep C Connection!  Chris can be reached at cgrano@hepc-connection.org or 720-927-3960.  

Financial Resources 

Looking for financial resources?  Here are two foundations offering financial support to eligible patients that have been prescribed medication for their hepatitis C infection -  

  

Patient Advocate Foundation
Maximum Award Level: $7,500 per year
Website: www.copays.org/diseases/hepatitis-c
Phone Number: (866) 512-3861  

Patient Access Network 
Maximum Award Level: $10,000 Per Year 
Website: http://www.panfoundation.org/hepatitis-c   
Phone Number: (866) 316-PANF (7263)  

Featured HCV Clinical Trials

To find clinical trials in your city, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov or call us at 1-800-522-HEPC and we can walk you through the website.

 

If you are in the metro-Denver area, 

 

South Denver Gastroenterology, PC invites you to call Kelly Braun, Clinical Research Coordinator, at (303) 406-4288 if you're interested in future studies.  

  

University of Colorado Hospital invites you to call (303) 724-1876 if you are interested in participating in a clinical trial at the Hospital.

Desserts & Delights 

We are beginning to plan our annual fundraising event, Desserts & Delights.  Please contact Sascha Larsen-Helbing (slh@hepc-connection.org) if you would like to volunteer on our planning committee.  We need volunteers to solicit auction items, increase awareness of the event through social media, and to help plan the evening. 
 
 Thank you 2014 Titanium Sponsor!