The Clinical Trial (PCYC-1143) - Tuesday, July 2, 2019
The trial gives all participants ibrutinib and venetoclax/placebo orally each day. The trial will last 4 years with ibrutinib given for all 4 years and the venetoclax/placebo given for the first 2 years. The trial for me started on July 2, 2019.
The retail cost of the medicine is quite expensive (about $25,000 / month), and because it’s given orally it’s not covered by Medicare. However, as a participant in the trial, the trial sponsor provides the chemo at no cost to me.
The trial requires participants to follow a strict appointment schedule; with a leeway of only 3 days. There are many appointments the first month, then every 4 weeks for the year, and every 8 weeks for year 2 through 4. CT Scans will be done every 12 weeks for the first year, and then every 16 weeks after that. A ‘trial’ year is 48 weeks, not 52.
On the plus side, the trial will reimburse participants for mileage, lodging and food because of the trial. I will receive mileage and food only, because I live in town.
In addition to the above chemo, I will also take (at my expense) Allopurinol, Acyclovir and Sulfameth/Trimeth for various lengths of time.