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Truvada (also known by the generic name emtricitabine-tenofovir, or TDF) is a type of medication used to help control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Truvada works to lower the amount of HIV in the body to improve the functioning of the immune system.
What Is Truvada Used For?
Truvada is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Gilead, and came onto the market back in 2001. Truvada comes in tablet form, and is taken once per day. Gilead makes billions each year from Truvada and its other HIV products. Gilead’s HIV drugs include:
- Atripla
- Complera
- Stribild
- Truvada
- Viread
So what exactly is Truvada used for? While Truvada and other HIV drugs do not get rid of HIV infection completely, they do help control the infection and prevent serious HIV complications like new infections or cancer.
Truvada is now also being used to prevent HIV infection. Truvada used for HIV prevention is referred to as a “pre-exposure prophylaxis” or “PrEP” medication.
Truvada has been in use as an HIV medication for about ten years now, though it was only in 2012 that Truvada used for HIV prevention was approved as the first PrEP medication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What are Truvada’s Side Effects?
Truvada, like any other medication, has a number of possible side effects. The mild side effects linked with Truvada are upset stomach, headache, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
But Truvada has been linked with a number of much more serious complications, including lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid the bloodstream that can cause more serious complications), liver problems, kidney problems (including kidney failure) and bone density loss.
The bone density loss and kidney problems in particular are linked to Truvada’s active ingredient, TDF.
Have Any Lawsuits Been Filed?
So far, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Gilead, alleging the company either knew or should have known about the kidney and bone density complications linked with its drug. But instead of warning the public and the medical community about these risks, the lawsuits claim, Gilead ignored the risks and even misrepresented them, placing company profit over patient safety.
Additionally, according to many patients who have been harmed by Truvada used for HIV treatment, the manufacturer of the drug may have purposefully withheld a safer drug from the market in order to continue to make profits from existing HIV medications.
The first individual lawsuits over Truvada were filed in California in May 2018, with hundreds of others following thereafter.
Did Gilead Know About Truvada Side Effects?
Gilead, the manufacturer of Truvada, held the patent for the drug until 2020. This meant that only Gilead had the right to produce and sell the life-saving medication in the U.S., which created a monopoly that allowed the company to charge more than $10,000 for a year’s supply. In other parts of the world, generic versions of the drug cost between $200 and $750 for a year’s supply.
A generic version of Truvada has only been available in the U.S. since October 2020. This new medication manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals is less expensive than brand name Truvada, but only by a few hundred dollars. A month’s supply of the medication is expected to cost around $1,455.
According to several lawsuits filed against Gilead, the company had developed another drug that could treat HIV with fewer side effects as early as 2000. However, rather than continuing to test and develop this new drug, plaintiffs claim that Gilead shelved the medication in order to continue making maximum profits off of Truvada through the end of their exclusivity patent.
Some plaintiffs have also claimed that the company did not publish positive results from clinical studies involving the safer drug for years after these studies had been conducted, potentially deceiving HIV patients into believing that there was no safer option than Truvada.
Can I File a Truvada Lawsuit?
If you or someone you love has taken one of Gilead’s HIV medications and has since suffered from kidney or bone density problems, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by these side effects, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Pursuing litigation can be a daunting prospect, 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 class action lawsuit claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.
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