Gilead Sciences, Inc., the manufacturer of HIV medication containing “tenofovir disoproxil fumarate” (TDF), such as Truvada, is facing lawsuits. The plaintiffs state the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings about the serious side effects associated with TDF, while purposely delaying development of a safer version of the drug to increase profits.
Our Chesterfield product liability lawyers are seeking cases in which HIV patients were prescribed and took TDF medications and later developed serious kidney and/or bone injuries.
While HIV cannot be cured yet, it can be controlled so that it doesn’t continue to multiply, helping patients live long, productive lives. Medications can also lower the risk that patients will infect others.
Nearly two decades ago, the FDA approved Gilead’s TDF (also called “tenofovir DF”) for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. It is used in combination with other medications to keep the HIV virus under control. In 2008, the FDA approved it for use in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, and in 2012, for the treatment of HIV in children.
TDF belongs to a group of HIV drugs called “nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).” These drugs block the action of an HIV enzyme called “reverse transcriptase.” This helps keep the virus from multiplying, and reduces the amount of HIV in the body. In combination with other medications, TDF is used to help people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives. TDF, however, has a low bioavailability, which means that it’s not readily absorbed by the body; so higher doses are required to be effective. Studies have linked high doses of TDF to an increased risk of kidney and bone issues. Gilead has sold TDF-containing medications under brands including:
Individuals taking TDF-containing medications may be at risk for:
The AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) filed a lawsuit against Gilead in 2016, claiming Gilead delayed the development and release of TAF to extend the patents on their TDF medications and put profits ahead of patients’ health. For a decade, the company let patients take the dangerous TDF, when they could have reduced their risk of kidney and bone disease by speeding up the development and release of TAF. In 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted Gilead’s motion to dismiss the case, but AHF has filed a petition for review by the Supreme Court of the United States. Other plaintiffs are filing TDF lawsuits in an effort to hold Gilead accountable for its actions.
If you live in Missouri or Illinois and you or a loved one went through treatment with a TDF medication and then experienced serious side effects such as those listed above, you may be eligible to file a TDF lawsuit to recover damages.
