A number of HIV drugs, including Atripla, has been linked with serious bone density and kidney problems. Some patients claim that the drug’s manufacturers were capable of releasing a safer alternative to Atripla, but chose not to, placing patients at unnecessary risk.

What is Atripla?

Atripla is an HIV drug manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences that contains the active ingredient tenofovir. Atripla and other tenofovir-based HIV drugs are antiretroviral medications and belong to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).

According to WebMD, Atripla is a combination of efavirenz (Sustiva), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread), and emtricitabine (Emtriva). Atripla is taken orally and is approved as an alternative treatment regimen for people living with HIV in order to help control HIV infection and allow the immune system to work better. This is meant to lower the risk of HIV complications like new infections and cancer, and improves quality of life in general. Atripla was approved for this use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in July 2006.

Tenofovir-based HIV drugs include:

• Atripla
• Complera
• Stribild
• Truvada
• Vireas

What are the Risks of Tenofovir-Based HIV Drugs?

Unfortunately, Atripla and other tenofovir-based HIV drugs have been linked with serious complications, according to aidsinfo.com, including:

• Bone mineral density loss
• Bone necrosis (bone death)
• Bone fracture
• Osteopenia
• Osteoporosis
• Kidney toxicity
• Chronic kidney disease
• Kidney damage
• Kidney failure

Some claim that intake of these drugs allows excessive amounts of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to travel to the bones and kidneys, and may cause serious damage like bone necrosis and kidney failure. For patients who are already dealing with HIV (which damages the immune system), these complications can be especially harmful.

Has Litigation Been Filed Over Tenofovir-Based HIV Drugs?

A growing number of patients are turning to litigation, alleging that they were injured because of the use of tenofovir-based HIV drugs like Atripla. According to some of these lawsuits, the drugmaker Gilead was aware of the risks associated with tenofovir, yet continued to claim these HIV drugs were safe and effective, deliberately downplaying the dangers and placing patients at risk.

One lawsuit, filed in July 2018, was filed by a man who was only 26 when he began taking the tenofovir-based HIV drug Truvada, which led to compromised bone mineral density. On top of this, the lawsuit claims, Gilead has a safer drug, but has allegedly withheld it from the public in order to wring as much as it can out of Truvada earnings first. Similar lawsuits have been filed against the HIV drugs Atripla, Complera, Stribild, and Viread.

Can I File an HIV Drug Lawsuit?

If you or someone you love has suffered from kidney failure, bone necrosis, or other complications from Atripla or another HIV medication that contains tenofovir you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Pursuing litigation can be stressful, especially after suffering from serious complications, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.