Hi Paul
Its interesting to see how you are getting on in the abatacept trial as I myself am hoping to enter the exact same trial. I still have to get all the pre-screening tests done first (TB, Hepatitis, etc). In the trial documentation that my GI emailed to me, it says that if your UC does not improve after the initial 3 months - you can ask to be guaranteed to receive the real medication and not the placebo. You dont have to wait the full 12 months.
Hope you do getter better though. I am pinning my hopes on this working, I have exhausted all other medical options now to get into remission....