Notes from the Underground

(NOTES) 1592 - Where Are You?

NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND; PWA Health Group - July, 1997

Glaxo Wellcome has been promising a tiny program for their strong new drug, 1592 (Abacavir), since last fall. For PWAs who've gone through every antiviral, 1592 may be their only hope. (Early trials report severe nausea.) Glaxo's penny-pinching program will offer drug to 2,500-5,000 people worldwide, including 250 kids, 250 PWAs with dementia, and 100 adults per week in the US, all starting sometime this summer. Good news: it will be available for kids (viral load over 100,000 & CD4% less than 15). Bad news: no one, not even Glaxo, seems to know when these programs will open, including the "spring '97" pediatric program.

To get 1592, your doctor should call 1-800-501-4672.

We do not know when this "Dispassionate Abuse Program" (thank you, Richard) will actually open. To qualify, you have to have less than 100 T-cells (CD4 count), viral load over 30,000, have either taken two nucleosides and one protease, or have failed all anti-virals (which would amount to 1592 monotherapy), and, of course, win the weekly 100 person lottery. Also the adult program is only at 60 research sites, so if you don't live near one of them, you're out of luck.

Friendly operators are now standing by at the 800 number, and quick to acknowledge they know virtually nothing about the "open label program." (For more information on these programs - call us.) Since Glaxo's plans for a larger program sometime in 1998 look equally abysmal, it's fair to say that many, many people who might benefit from this drug will not be able to get it in time. Opinions about this? Call Glaxo:

Jennifer McMillan, Health Care Coalitions (PR): (919)4832987, Robert Ingram, President & CEO (919) 248-2100, If you're particularly ambitious, Sir Richard Sykes, Chief Executive (in London): 011 44 171 408 0228.

There are a lot of people working to create better access to 1592 and other new drugs - and we could use your help. Please call to join the fight to restore fair access to compassionate use programs.
970720
NT970702

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeard in 1997. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

Copyright © 1997 - NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND - The PWA Health Group Newsletter. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission from the PWA Health Group. NOTE: The PWA Health Group is no longer in existence, as per notification in 2003. An organization called Visionary Health Concepts has succeded them. VHConcepts is a HIV/Hepatitis+ owned and operated health education company specializing in providing free HIV & Hepatitis treatment programs For more information please contact Email: edu@vhconcepts.com. .

This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1997. ÆGIS.