My first post on this topic got buried somewhere in "Discussion" purgatory, so I am providing an update on my experience as a participant in the Stanford trial for Xeljanz...

After contacting Dr. King at Yale several months ago, he finally got back to me last December to inform me that two doctors at Stanford University are conducting a trial to hopefully replicate his findings. I jumped at the opportunity and got in touch with Dr. Milene Crispin at Stanford. Working with Dr. Justin Ko, they are conducting a trial where participants take 5mg of Xeljanz twice daily for 3 months. Then, we are monitored for 3 months after the drug is finished to see what happens. 

Participants in the trial are not privy to results of other trial members, but both doctors have told me they are definitely seeing some positive results on not only patients with AA, but AU as well. I struggled with a 2-year battle of AA back in 2007-8 and then went into complete remission for three years. All my hair grew back. However, I relpased in early 2013 following some very stressful times and a reoccurrence of mercury poisoning, and over the course of that year, watched my hair fall out completely. By January 2014, I was shaving my head and turning to wigs. In June 2014, I began to progress into AU, where I am at to this day. I lost everything. 

I did my research on Xeljanz and all its potential risks, and I talked to two friends who have been on JAK Inhibitors for RA (not Xeljanz because it is so new) for the longterm (years), and they are not dropping dead of cancer. There are millions of RA patients out there on JAK Inhibitors, and as long as they are being responsibly monitored by their doctors monthly, I believe the risks are not as bad as the literature warns. Certainly, everyone is different, so I am not going to elaborate on the odds of side effects. But my medical history and bloodwork showed that I am a good candidate for giving Xeljanz a shot. I don't know if any of you have seen them, but there are ads for Xeljanz popping up in magazines. Pfizer is really banking on this drug.

So here is where I am as of this date...I flew up from Los Angeles to Stanford on 01/14/15 for my diagnostic appointment in the trial. Dr. Ko took photos of my scalp and nails, did a small scalp biopsy, walked me through a ton of paperwork, sent me to the lab one floor down to have blood drawn, and sent me home with a co-pay card from Pfizer that will cover a total of $8,000 over the three-month period that I will take the drug. Yes, you read that correctly. Xeljanz costs approximately $3,000 for a one-month supply! Thus, I will be paying $1,000 out-of-pocket over the course of this trial. It is worth it to me to see what happens. I have to pay for my own plane tickets and rental cars during the trial because I must fly up to Stanford each month for 6 months total to be monitored. Thus, if you are considering this trial (or the one at Columbia University) understand that it will cost you. 

TODAY, I finally got the Xeljanz in hand after 3 weeks of winding through more red tape than one can imagine possible. The doctors gave me guidelines on how to get the drug using the co-pay card issued from Pfizer for this trial, but depending on one's health insurance company, the process can become one, big cluster-fuck! It certainly was for me. I have Healthnet PPO, just so you know. 

Now, you may wonder what my health insurance has to do with this since they will NOT approve Xeljanz for AU (NO insurance will because it is not FDA approved for Alopecia). However, pre-authorization is necessary to begin the trial and then to get the ball rolling with the pharmacy. Before my first trip to Stanford, I had to get my local dermatologist to send a fax to Healthnet telling them I was flying to Stanford to "receive treatment for AU that is not available to me here in Los Angeles." I was told NOT to have my dermatologist state it is a "medical trial." That could delay things. I got the pre-authorization to go do an out-of-network office visit up at Stanford. That was the easy part. 

The logistic nightmare came when I then tried to get the drug with Pfizer's co-pay card. I will not go into all the details here or I could write a novel. I will just say that the ONLY pharmacy that is getting the process completed and getting Xeljanz into trial members' hands is the CVS Specialty Compounding Pharmacy. You submit your RX to your local CVS, and they must send it off to this compounding branch (it has a 1-800 number) where they process the prescription. It took three weeks of back and forth between more pre-authorizations needed from Healthnet, faxes from the doctors at Stanford, getting the co-pay card processed, and ultimately getting the drug mailed to me (or your local CVS where you can pick it up). It took a lot of effort, but I not only got the drug, but I paved the way for future trial members by getting a representative at the CVS Specialty Center to send out a company-wide email memo so any representative getting the prescription and co-pay card should now know what to do. I wouldn't bet on it, though. I spoke to many folks on that 1-800 number who had no clue how to get the Pfizer co-pay card processed. HOWEVER, if you are reading this and decide to partake in either the Stanford or Columbia trial, feel free to email me at the address under my name at the end of this post. I am happy to talk you through the step-by-step process required for getting the drug in your hands. I don't want anyone to go through the shit-storm I battled. 

So, now I begin the trial in earnest. I took my first pill today. I will continue to post throughout the 6 months that I am on the trial to document my progress (if I have any). Who knows what will come out of this? Maybe nothing. But, I feel very strongly about supporting the Alopecia community by participating in this trial. It is outrageous that there is still no reliable drug available for our disorder, and the FDA must be convinced that JAK Inhibitors such as Xeljanz DO work for some Alopecia patients. Currently, Pfizer is trying to get Xeljanz approved for psoriasis since the case study patient at Yale saw dramatic improvement to not only his RA and AU but severe psoriasis. Pfizer is heavily advertising Xeljanz in the magazines for RA because that is the only condition it is currently FDA approved for. But, I learned that Pfizer lost $114 million last year on Xeljanz because there were simply not enough RA patients willing to switch to this new drug. Pfizer is very invested in Xeljanz as a future cash cow. That is one reason they are providing the $8,000 co-pay coverage for trial members! They are hoping to get their drug FDA approved for more than RA or they will never make money on it. This is a very positive sign for the Alopecia community, I believe. We trial members are the pioneers.

Again, if you are reading this and are interested in the Stanford trial, call Dr. Milene Crispin ASAP at 603-667-1310. When I visited her offices on 01/14, there were about 20 trial members. They will cap the number at 40. I know Dr. Crispin has been bombarded with emails. So don't delay emailing her if you are interested. She will contact you by phone and talk you through the trial conditions and find out if you meet the first qualifications to come to the clinic for the first consultation visit. If you are already in the trial and are trying to get through the red tape to get the drug, email me and we can exchange numbers, and I will talk you through the process. 

Wish me luck! My journey is finally under way!

--Susan

Views: 26025

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Thank you for sharing this. I'm really excited to hear about your progress. My five year old daughter lost all her hair a few months ago. I'm sure children can't take this. Hopefully, good will come from this and they can find something safe for kids too. Best of luck.

Hair Loss Pills - http://www.foliactive.com I started using Foliactive thanks to a good friend’s recommendation and the truth is it’s working very well. I already got some of my crown hair back and I feel that, in fact, my hair’s stopped falling out so much.

Thanks for sharing all of this... Good luck Susan!!!  Please keep us posted along the way. 

Good Luck! Please keep us updated!

Do you happen to know if I can do this trial while I'm pregnant? I doubt it but I love really close to Stanford that's why I was asking
Best of luck. I hope this goes well and it is effective in treating all forms of alopecia. Please please please let this be the answer to ALL our problems. :)
No way can you be pregnant on the trial. In fact, you have to agree to be using some kind of birth control if you are sexually active. Also, this is obviously not a medication for children. But hopefully, this trial and the one's at Columbia and Yale will pave the way for more studies and eventually the development of a topical (less risky version of the drug).

BTW, I am 5 days on the Xeljanz, now. Obviously, I don't expect to see any hair regrowth this soon, but just want to update to say I am experiencing NONE of the possible self-measurable side effects: No headache, diarrhea, etc. I feel just fine. I take the drug once in the AM before breakfast and about an hour or two after dinner. 5mg + 5mg per day.

--Susan

Thank you for sharing this, I'm excited for you and wish you the best of luck!  

I would love to have my daughter participate but she isn't 18 yrs yet and we live outside the USA.  I'm actually thinking of going to a dermatologist here and seeing if he would be interested in doing some sort of trial with this drug.  Xeljanz was approved for sale in this country last year, but only for RA.  You never know, my daughter might be the first to participate in a clinical trial in this country!  Keep us posted on your progress!

Hi Susan, I cannot participate in the trial, but my derm has prescribed the drug for me and I do have the Co-pay card from Pzifer.  My insurance  company is Carefirst Blue Cross and they do cover half the price of Xeljanz for Rheumatoid Arthritis.  My Derm thinks he can write a long letter with photos of my AU, and that they will cover it, but I told him that if he mentions the AU, they will not cover it.  If by some miracle, they do, do you think the process of actually using the co-pay card would be as difficult.  Thanks for your advice.   

Hi
is this available in Australia? I am very interested in trying it! I have reached the point of trying ANYTHING!!!!
You have to do your research there. I doubt there are any trials going on in Australia because this is all so new. And I don't know if Xeljanz is approved in Australia for RA. It is very unlikely it is approved for AA or AU. If you find out anything, please share!
UPDATE:

I have been on my twice daily 5mg doses of Xeljanz since February 4th (about a week and a half). Yesterday (2/14) I battled a sudden onset of diarrhea and was developing a nasty headache (until I knocked that out with an effective med I have for headaches). I woke up in the middle of the night in a deep sweat--clothes soaked through.

I'm writing this to keep tabs on any changes to my health. HOWEVER, I seriously doubt these symptoms are related to the Xeljanz. My 14-yr-old daughter just got over a nasty cold, and one of my best friends was fighting light flu-like symptoms for almost 2 weeks. So it is likely I am picking up some bug. It has been going around all over LA.

This AM, my temperature is normal and no signs of headache. Digestive tract is still out of whack.

RSS

Disclaimer

Any mention of products and services on Alopecia World is for informational purposes only; it does not imply a recommendation or endorsement by Alopecia World. Nor should any statement or representation on this site be construed as professional, medical or expert advice, or as pre-screened or endorsed by Alopecia World. Alopecia World is not responsible or liable for any of the views, opinions or conduct, online or offline, of any user or member of Alopecia World.

© 2024   Created by Alopecia World.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service