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Posted 6/3/2014 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
People, will you use an immunosuppressive(aza, 6MP, mtx...) with vedolizumab or use vedolizumab alone? I'm not sure about if combination therapy is necessary. What do you think?

Post Edited (xy123) : 6/3/2014 7:57:29 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/3/2014 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Personally, when I get on it (which may be a long time from now) I will definitely use Imuran. The Imuran may not be therapeutic for me, but I DO NOT want antibodies to vedo. Taking Imuran is no gaurentee of preventing this, but its better than nothing, so yes I will be.
Posted 6/3/2014 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not close at all to needing Vedolizumab either but I have the opposite opinion. One of the best reasons for Vedolizumab is it's excellent safety profile. I wouldn't mess that up by taking a drug with bad known side effects (even if it is just a small percent). I'm not a fan at all of immunemodulators or biologics but Vedo so far seems different.
Posted 6/3/2014 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, the scientists who studied the drug will tell you it has a higher chance of working if it's taken alongside an immunosuppressant drug. Barnsbury, the only user here who participated in the trial, had to take imuran for it to "work".

The same people behind the tysabri and vedolizumab trials said in 2011 that combo therapy is, and I quote:

Combination therapy with immunosuppressives and tumour necrosis factor antagonists is likely the best strategy for achieving optimal outcomes in patients at high risk of disease progression.

I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but that's just the nature of biologics.
Posted 6/3/2014 5:14 PM (GMT 0)

Guardian7 said...
Actually, the scientists who studied the drug will tell you it has a higher chance of working if it's taken alongside an immunosuppressant drug. Barnsbury, the only user here who participated in the trial, had to take imuran for it to "work".

The same people behind the tysabri and vedolizumab trials said in 2011 that combo therapy is, and I quote:

Combination therapy with immunosuppressives and tumour necrosis factor antagonists is likely the best strategy for achieving optimal outcomes in patients at high risk of disease progression.

I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but that's just the nature of biologics.

Though I agree with the premise, that quote is specific for TNF-alpha anatogonists, which Vedo is not.

@Gary - Personally, Im willing to take the small risk of the side effects with Imuran if it means a decrease in the chances of antibodies, because if you do develop antibodies, it doesnt matter at all how safe vedo is
Posted 6/3/2014 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
I thought the risk of antibodies with vedo was minimal anyway?
Posted 6/3/2014 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately I have had bad reaction to imuran in the past. Pancreatitis like symptoms. Hopefully this can still be a benefit for me.
Posted 6/3/2014 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I don't even take it with Remicade and have never had any problems, so I probably wouldn't unless a need was clearly demonstrated.
Posted 6/3/2014 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Neekap-same for me with the pancreatitis from Imuran.  My GI mentioned taking Methotrexate when I was on Humira so I suppose that is a possibility.
Posted 6/3/2014 7:32 PM (GMT 0)

UCHater said...
I thought the risk of antibodies with vedo was minimal anyway?

Actually this is true and something i forgot to consider.

While Remicade is a chimeric antibody (meaning a substantial component is mouse protein), Vedo is a fully human antibody, so the chances of antibody development are minimal as is.

Ill have to look at the studies a little closer I suppose before making a definitive conclusion, but I still feel like Id rather not risk it, at least at the begining
Posted 6/4/2014 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
This article http://www.atmjournal.org/article/view/2931/3851 says:
Immunogenicity was low in the study with only 4% of patients developing antibodies to vedolizumab; further less than 1% developed persistent antibodies.
Posted 6/4/2014 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
What's persistent antibodies? Does that mean that the other 3% had 'transient' antibodies? So in actual fact only 1% really stopped responding to the drug....?
Posted 6/4/2014 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
"hi, my name is Ramone, and i'll be your vedo waiter today - may I start you off with a nice Braggs Organic Apple Cider/Concord Grape-Acai Vinegar Drink to enjoy while we stab you mercilessly ?
Posted 6/4/2014 2:44 PM (GMT 0)

Conquer UC said...
What's persistent antibodies? Does that mean that the other 3% had 'transient' antibodies? So in actual fact only 1% really stopped responding to the drug....?

Im curious about this as well. Because usually when you develop an antibody response, you get both plasma cells and memory B cells that contain the info the make the same antibodies. The plasma cells are short lived and produce antibodies immediately, while memory cells are long lived and only produce antibodies once the antigen is recognized again. This would seem to imply that only plasma cells were produced, not memory B cells. I could be wrong about this, but Ill look into it and get back to you guys.
Posted 6/4/2014 3:41 PM (GMT 0)

soystud said...
"hi, my name is Ramone, and i'll be your vedo waiter today - may I start you off with a nice Braggs Organic Apple Cider/Concord Grape-Acai Vinegar Drink to enjoy while we stab you mercilessly ?

Okay, I've been waiting for someone to make this joke, and had a bet with myself who would be the one to make it.... I figured either Somedude or Soystud. heh heh heh.
Posted 6/4/2014 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Lol soy! Check please.
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