Isentress Script Written Off Label for Herpes

[struggle83]

I received the follwing email from HCC -

All,

I will be conducting a clinical trial on myself under the supervision of my doctor. If the Barcelona researchers are right, this drug will stop replication and drastically improve my quality of life. All named antivirals for herpes have failed me. Wish me luck.

HCC President

[purplegoddess8591]

wat the hell is this? is this person puttin themself in danger possibly?

[helpiamconfused2]

wat the hell is this? is this person puttin themself in danger possibly?

This is an FDA approved drug... Further, see that (s)he states, "under the supervision of my doctor"

[Movingslowly]

Keep us informed and let us know how this works for you!

[struggle83]

wat the hell is this? is this person puttin themself in danger possibly?

This drug has a spotless profile. It's probably safer than the bags of Valtrex that some on this forum consume.

[Cure Coming Soon]

Let's see how it goes, hope he has success.

[soul5821]

Well I know someone who is hiv poz and herpes+ as well. He takes Isentress; He told me that he has the same symptoms and the same recurrences of herpes since he started this drug...

[struggle83]

Well I know someone who is hiv poz and herpes+ as well. He takes Isentress; He told me that he has the same symptoms and the same recurrences of herpes since he started this drug...

People who are immunocompromised may not reap the benefit of Isentress for HSV. Let's see how HCC does in the next couple months.

[Dacrazy1]

Keep Us Posted! Good Luck!

[Herpes Awareness]

AIC316 should be out soon, all going well. Isentress is not adapted to HSV as a blocking molecule.

[struggle83]

AIC316 should be out soon, all going well. Isentress is not adapted to HSV as a blocking molecule.

There's no telling how long AIC316 is going to take. And I understand that it hasn't proven all that effective for HSV1.

[Herpes Awareness]

There's no telling how long AIC316 is going to take. And I understand that it hasn't proven all that effective for HSV1.

Both anecdotally and scientifically, it doesn't seem that Isentress is going to be at all effective for any strain of HHV.

'Broad spectrum' antivirals that attack whole classes of virus like antibiotics attack bacteria is the next holy grail for medicine. Requires lots of research and study of viral lifecycles, creating blocking molecules, etc, something that couldn't be done well until more HIV research was done, advancse in computing and electron microscopy, molecule synthesis, etc. Just throwing a new antiviral at a number of viruses won't fix them.

Not sure about AIC316 and HSV-1, thought HSV-1 and -2 were quite similar and it was effective on both. I'll do some digging... Can you indicate where you have seen this?

[struggle83]

Both anecdotally and scientifically, it doesn't seem that Isentress is going to be at all effective for any strain of HHV.

Just throwing a new antiviral at a number of viruses won't fix them.

HA- I'm not sure how your opinion is being formed. The Isentress protein is an almost exact fit for the HSV virus. It's like a lock and key. Anecdotal doesn't mean anything (not to mention there is no anecdotal reports yet) and I don't know how you can say scientifically it doesn't seem to fit. Of all things, scientifically it does seem like a fit. That is why they took out a new patent and have devoted resources to the research. They are probably spending more money on that than Bloom and Cullen combined.

Many viruses share genetics and modes of action. There are many broad range anti-virals that are extremely effective. Think outside the HHV/HSV box.

Here is the bottom line gang. Chimerix and Isentress are the only two "novel" treatments that are available to us now, and that will be available for another 5-10 years, for that matter. And I'm not saying a cure in 10 years. That could be longer. We'd better all hope that both these meds offer better suppression than the *cyclovirs. It may be that these meds in conjunction with the *cyclovirs offer almost 100% protection.

[helpiamconfused2]

HA- I'm not sure how your opinion is being formed. The Isentress protein is an almost exact fit for the HSV virus. It's like a lock and key. Anecdotal doesn't mean anything (not to mention there is no anecdotal reports yet) and I don't know how you can say scientifically it doesn't seem to fit. Of all things, scientifically it does seem like a fit. That is why they took out a new patent and have devoted resources to the research. They are probably spending more money on that than Bloom and Cullen combined.

Many viruses share genetics and modes of action. There are many broad range anti-virals that are extremely effective. Think outside the HHV/HSV box.

Here is the bottom line gang. Chimerix and Isentress are the only two "novel" treatments that are available to us now, and that will be available for another 5-10 years, for that matter. And I'm not saying a cure in 10 years. That could be longer. We'd better all hope that both these meds offer better suppression than the *cyclovirs. It may be that these meds in conjunction with the *cyclovirs offer almost 100% protection.

s83, is Chimerix on the market? I thought it was in clinical trials...

[Herpes Awareness]

HA- I'm not sure how your opinion is being formed. The Isentress protein is an almost exact fit for the HSV virus. It's like a lock and key. Anecdotal doesn't mean anything (not to mention there is no anecdotal reports yet) and I don't know how you can say scientifically it doesn't seem to fit. Of all things, scientifically it does seem like a fit. That is why they took out a new patent and have devoted resources to the research. They are probably spending more money on that than Bloom and Cullen combined.

Many viruses share genetics and modes of action. There are many broad range anti-virals that are extremely effective. Think outside the HHV/HSV box.

Here is the bottom line gang. Chimerix and Isentress are the only two "novel" treatments that are available to us now, and that will be available for another 5-10 years, for that matter. And I'm not saying a cure in 10 years. That could be longer. We'd better all hope that both these meds offer better suppression than the *cyclovirs. It may be that these meds in conjunction with the *cyclovirs offer almost 100% protection.

I would suggest AIC316 is not 5-10 years away, it will probably be available in under 5. That is a drug designed to be 'lock and key' with HSV, in that it inhibits the helicase-primase formation part of HSV replication.

apparently isentress locks onto herpes terminase which somewhat resembles the HIV integrase it was designed for. they are yet to test how effectively it might inhibit herpes in vitro AND in vivo at this stage. the molecule may need to be adapted, or it may not inhibit at all or only weakly, they don't know yet. it may not work via oral dose. if it works against all HHV, that would be great, there's a rash of proposed molecules under development like that, but maybe isentress can beat the others to the punch... or maybe it can't.

[Sweet7]

HA, I sure hope that you’re right about AIC316. As for the HCC President, good luck. I sure hope this works for you, but if it doesn’t, CMX001 looks very promising as well. Hopefully that will hit the market soon and might be prescribed off label. I thought it was in a phase III trial for RSV but cannot find that information on Chimerix’s website.

Struggle, could you ask the HCC if Cidofovir was tried before Isentress? I’m just curious. I had thought about talking to my doc about options for resistant strains and know that Cidofovir infusion is usually used. I’m afraid of trying it do to the possibility of kidney damage.

[struggle83]

Chimerix CMX001 is available for HSV. You need to join the trials out of NY, Chicago and NC. CMX001 has a great profile for treating HSV. It is MUCH more effective than Valtrex, has a greated distribution and it readily crosses the BBB. It is the next step in the evolution of HSV anti-virals. Isentress is more of a guess at this stage, although an educated guess. I would start with Chimerix and if that didn't help then move on to Isentress.

I am also trying some supplements, such as Beta Glucan and NK-3. These naturally boost your immune system. They've both got science behind them, unlike most of the supplements you read on this board. I've got Ribavirin in case I have to take it up a notch and I ordered Aldara cream for local application and maybe try cycloferon for a more systemic approach. Lot's of things to try.

[helpiamconfused2]

Chimerix CMX001 is available for HSV. You need to join the trials out of NY, Chicago and NC. CMX001 has a great profile for treating HSV. It is MUCH more effective than Valtrex, has a greated distribution and it readily crosses the BBB. It is the next step in the evolution of HSV anti-virals. Isentress is more of a guess at this stage, although an educated guess. I would start with Chimerix and if that didn't help then move on to Isentress.

I am also trying some supplements, such as Beta Glucan and NK-3. These naturally boost your immune system. They've both got science behind them, unlike most of the supplements you read on this board. I've got Ribavirin in case I have to take it up a notch and I ordered Aldara cream for local application and maybe try cycloferon for a more systemic approach. Lot's of things to try.

s83, looks like you have it going on - no surprise! Can you point me to the link showing HSV trials fo CMX001?

[SuperManFace]

Why doesn't he experiment with vaccinia? What country do they still give out smallpox vaccination?

[Sweet7]

I don't think the smallpox vaccination would work, but not a bad idea. US soldiers are vaccinated against smallpox and there are some on here who have HSV-2, so, I doubt that it would be helpful. S83, don't forget zinc. Trim21 has zinc fingers. Won't keep HSV out of you neurons, but might help to keep it from replicating.

[Katiehope]

Any news on this? Did it work?

[SuperManFace]

I know it doesn't work with just one injection but it would be interesting to see if the "grace period for herpes" works. That is where you keep getting vaccinated over and over until the scab is smaller and smaller everytime until you get no cowpox scab. It already showed that it makes t-cells active against HIV with just one injection.

[SuperManFace]

I guess they say that when HSV goes latent, it doesn't stimulate the immune system so the T-cells don't "see" it right? It would be interesting to see the EBV cure in that article adapted for HSV. Or see if any of the participants of that trial had or have HSV.

[struggle83]

I don't think the smallpox vaccination would work, but not a bad idea. US soldiers are vaccinated against smallpox and there are some on here who have HSV-2, so, I doubt that it would be helpful. S83, don't forget zinc. Trim21 has zinc fingers. Won't keep HSV out of you neurons, but might help to keep it from replicating.

I take Zinc citrate supplements daily.

I started Ribavirin yesterday. Too early to tell just yet. I will update ASAP.

[Herpes Awareness]

Chimerix CMX001 is available for HSV. You need to join the trials out of NY, Chicago and NC. CMX001 has a great profile for treating HSV. It is MUCH more effective than Valtrex, has a greated distribution and it readily crosses the BBB. It is the next step in the evolution of HSV anti-virals. Isentress is more of a guess at this stage, although an educated guess. I would start with Chimerix and if that didn't help then move on to Isentress.

I am also trying some supplements, such as Beta Glucan and NK-3. These naturally boost your immune system. They've both got science behind them, unlike most of the supplements you read on this board. I've got Ribavirin in case I have to take it up a notch and I ordered Aldara cream for local application and maybe try cycloferon for a more systemic approach. Lots of things to try.

I wouldn't use Aldara for anything -- if it enters your bloodstream, you are potentially in for a world of autoimmune hurt -- go and see some of the users' findings out there which were attempted to be suppressed by 3M. Further, at best it revs up your immune system topically only to treat cancers and possibly HPV sites -- although elderly people find that once the cancer site opens up and Aldara gets into their bloodstream, it can make them very sick indeed.

I found beta-glucans in medicinal mushrooms like Cordyceps sinensis actually amde my GHSV-2 prodromal symptoms much worse in the early days -- unbearable pruritus, etc. Randomly revving up your immune system by just thropwing things at it is no guarantee for success, and in fact may achieve the opposite. I can now take Cordyceps again without noticing severe prodromal symptoms, but that's probably because my own immune system is damping down the virus better by now having evolved better antibodies over several years.

Be careful experimenting with random powerful antivirals with often toxic side effects also, to treat a fairly benign virus.

Valcyte has lately been found to lift CFS in some patients, for instance, suggesting it is effective against things like CMV or EBV, but it is an extremely expensive drug and has a fairly toxic side effect profile -- just that the quality of life improvement for a short burst of the drug in people who were bedridden with CFS justified the experiment.