Tdf Drug Health Risks
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate , a key ingredient of Truvada and other HIV PrEP and treatment medications, has been linked to a variety of minor side effects as well as more serious, potentially life-threatening health issues that can affect:
- Bone density and strength
- Kidney function
While the link to these health conditions isnt fully understood at this time, some studies suggest that TDFs effect on bone density may be related to its impact on renal or kidney function.
Clinical observations have revealed a strong correlation between loss of bone density in HIV-infected individuals, particularly in conjunction with the antiretroviral drug tenofovirThe loss of bone density due to TDF exposure could also be associated with tenofovir-induced renal dysfunction.
Dove Medical Press Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
What Is The Viread Truvada Atripla Complera And Stribild Class Action About
On April 19, 2021, Klein Lawyers filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all persons who were prescribed and consumed Viread, Truvada, Atripla, Complera, and/or Stribild in Canada. These five drugs are tenofovir disoproxil fumarate based medication which are used for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
The lawsuit alleges that the maker of these drugs, Gilead, knew that there was a safer alternative to TDF and knowingly delayed and withheld the development, marketing, and sale of TAF based medications, to maximize their profit from sales of Viread, Truvada, Atripla, Complera, and Stribild during their patent life. Due to Gileads actions, patients in Canada were exposed to the more toxic and dangerous medication for over a decade. As a result, Canadians unwittingly and needlessly suffered permanent and debilitating kidney and bone damage. Specifically, people experience:
- Kidney damage and kidney failure, including:
- Renal insufficiency/impairment
- Bone breaks/fractures
- Tooth loss
If you or someone you love takes or has taken one of the TDF based drugs and experienced any of the side effects listed above, please contact us via our confidential form or call and a member of our team will obtain more information from you to assess your eligibility to participate in this proposed class action. Your initial consultation is free. Klein Lawyers has offices in Vancouver and Toronto serving clients throughout Canada.
What Is Tdf What Is Taf
TDF is the active ingredient in Viread, Truvada, Atripla, Complera, and Stribild. These prescription medications were manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc., a pharmaceutical company based in the United States. TDF is metabolized in the blood into tenofovir which blocks an enzyme that causes HIV to proliferate, preventing and treating HIV. Viread, the first medication with TDF, was approved for use in Canada in 2004.
TAF also metabolizes into tenofovir. However, lower quantities are required to have comparable pharmacological effects as TDF based medications. As a result, people who take TDF based medications experience more significant side effects than if they had taken TAF based medications. Beginning in 2016, Gilead obtained approval for several TAF based medications including Genvoya, Descovy, Odefsey, and Biktarvy.
Read Also: What Do You Do When You Have Hiv
How Have People Been Harmed By Gileads Tdf Drugs
Individuals taking one or more of Gilead’s TDF drugs allegedly have an increased risk of developing kidney issues and experiencing bone density loss.
Chronic Kidney Disease Injuries
Since Gileads first TDF drug came to market, nearly 20,000 people taking one or more of the drug manufacturers TDF drugs have allegedly been diagnosed with kidney disease by a physician or other healthcare provider. Kidney damage is a particularly dangerous side effect because the kidneys are resilient and adapt so easily when damaged that symptoms only begin appearing once irreversible damage has already occurred.
…nearly 20,000 people taking one or more of the drug manufacturers TDF drugs have allegedly been diagnosed with kidney disease.
Kidneys are one of the bodys most important organs because they filter electrolytes, wastes, and fluid from the bloodstream into urine, and out of the body. Chronic kidney disease prevents the kidneys from effectively filtering the bloodstream, and waste can build up to dangerously high levels if left unaddressed. In the most severe cases of chronic kidney disease, people will need to undergo dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Common symptoms of kidney failure include:
- Loss of appetite
- Abnormal protein levels in the urine
- High creatinine levels diagnosed by a physician or other healthcare provider
- Abnormal glomerular filtration rate levels as determined by tests and blood work
- Death due to renal failure
Bone Density Injuries
- Back pain
Contact A Tdf Drug Lawyer To Assess Your Claim
Stark & Stark is committed to holding drug manufacturers liable when their products improperly endanger the public. Our TDF drug claims lawyers are experienced in mass torts MDL litigation cases and in negotiating with medical device and pharmaceutical settlement representatives. We are not a marketing group. Stark & Stark is a law firm comprised of experienced trial lawyers.
Stark & Stark is a national law firm pursuing thousands of cases throughout the country. We have been in business for over 80 years and have over 100 attorneys in offices located throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. Let us help you.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Connection Between Hiv And Aids
Did They Delay Release Of Allegedly Safer Taf
What is the difference between TAF and TDF?
TDF medications are manufactured by Gilead Sciences, one of the largest manufacturers of HIV drugs in the entire world. The drugs Truvada, Stribild, Atripla, Viread, and Complera were prescribed to treat HIV. The first to enter the US market was Viread in 2001 when it was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration .
These TDF medications contains tenofovir disoproxil fumerate, which has been linked to allegedly causing bone density issues and serious kidney issues including kidney failure. TAF medications such as Genvoya, Odefsey, and Descovy contain tenofovir alafenamide which is allegedly safer than and equally as effective as TDF medications, due to a lower dosage or less toxic concentration of the drug.
These lawsuits specifically center around whether Gilead Sciences intentionally delayed the release of TAF medications to the market to capitalize on profits in the TDF market, while allegedly aware of the increased safety risks posed by TDF medications.
How big is Gilead Sciences?
It is estimated that in 2017 alone, Gilead Sciences earned over $11 billion in sales from all the TDF drugs they manufactured and marketed.
This places Gilead with an estimated 80% share of the entire anti-retroviral drug marketplace.
The timeline of the release of these medications by Gilead is as follows:
What Is The Status Of The Truvada Lawsuit
If youve been injured by Truvada, you may be wondering about the current state of the litigation before you decide if you want to file. Two lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer or Truvada. The lawsuits, which were filed on May 8, 2018, allege that Gilead Sciences, Inc. promoted the medication while suppressing a safer alternative, tenofovir alafenamide, or TAF.
Also Check: Can You Get Hiv From Kissing Someone
Hiv Drug Lawsuit Against Gilead Permitted To Proceed
Individuals taking Gileads HIV drug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate may experience complications related to the medication, including kidney disease and/or bone density loss. Here, the product liability attorneys at The Law Offices of Peter Angelos discuss the health and legal implications of TDF drugs.
TDF for HIV Treatment
TDF is an antiretroviral drug known as a nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor prescribed to treat HIV. The drug is designed to inhibit the activity of reverse-transcriptase, an enzyme that is essential in the replication and progression of HIV. The five TDF drugs manufactured by Gilead are Viread, Truvada, Atripla, Complera and Stribild.
Why are Users Filing Lawsuits Against Gilead?
TDF drugs were introduced to the market in 2001. That same year, Gilead began the development of a less toxic alternative known as tenofovir alafenamide fumarate . Two years later, Gilead placed a label on its TDF products warning of the possible side effects, and a year later the drug manufacturer stopped the development of the less toxic TAF. It is not until 2010 that Gilead resumed its development of TAF. The first drug of its kind, Genvoya, was released to the public in 2015.
Users allege that individuals who took one or more of Gileads TDF drugs endured up to 10 years of additional toxicity even though Gilead had already developed a safer alternative.
How Have TDF Users Been Harmed by the Gilead Manufactured Drugs?
Kidney Damage
Bone Density Loss
Fdas Troubled History With Gilead Sciences
Truvada has been the leading TDF-based drug on the market for Gilead Sciences. The company is also the leading manufacturer of HIV drugs worldwide, having earned a combined $11 billion in sales in 2017 alone. Despite Gileads successes, there have been several warnings from the FDA for misleading or downplaying the serious side effects of TDF found in Truvada and other HIV-related medications to doctors and patients:
- The FDA sent a letter to Gilead Sciences, criticizing the company over statements made by its representatives to physicians attending a scientific conference. Gilead representatives told physicians that its antiretroviral drugs were not toxic and posed no risk of kidney failure or possible bone issues even though the risk of bone fractures and renal problems were already known and included on the warning label.
- A second letter was issued by the FDA ordering Gilead Sciences to stop downplaying the risks and inflating the benefits of TDF drugs. A Gilead representative at an AIDS conference failed to disclose the serious risks associated with antiretroviral medications currently on the market.
- The FDA asked Gilead Sciences to remove a sponsored web link that misrepresented the safety of TDF drugs and failed to mention the known risks of kidney problems and bone issues. The company was legally required to remove the link.
Fill out our Free Case Evaluation form to get started.
Recommended Reading: How Could You Get Hiv
Ben Crump Pllc Will Fight For Your Rights
Ben Crump fights tirelessly to help regular people who suffered harm due to negligent or fraudulent corporations. You should not have to pay for medical bills and other costs that arose due to a defective drug. We will help you seek what you deserve, and we wont stop until justice is served.
We understand that standing up to a big pharmaceutical company can seem intimidating and perhaps even hopeless. Moreover, if you suffered significant injuries due to a defective drug, and you are not feeling your best. A lawsuit may also feel like added stress that you could do without. However, it may be your only chance of recovering your damages
Waiting too long to file a claim can potentially bar you from getting compensation. If a negligent drug manufacturer is responsible for your injuries or your loved ones death, let us help. Call Ben Crump, PLLC, for your free consultation now at .
References
Jacksonville Trust Seeks To Represent Large Class
The Jacksonville Police Officers and Fire Fighters Health Insurance Trust, a self-funded healthcare provider, is seeking the courts approval to represent a class of all other self-insured or mixed-insured group health plans in the United States that paid for Truvada on behalf of their members from January 25, 2018 to the present.
According to the trust, an exact calculation of the damages to the plaintiffs is not yet available, but the class action lawsuit says it is at least in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
In the U.S., Gilead Sciences has taken in about $6 billion in revenue from Truvada sales since 2018, the trust claims.
A significant portion of that amount represents overpayments by plaintiff and class members, the lawsuit says.
The Gilead Sciences Class Action Lawsuit is Jacksonville Police Officers and Fire Fighters Health Insurance Trust, et al. v. Gilead Sciences Inc., et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-06522 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District California, San Francisco Division.
Don’t Miss: Can Hiv Turn Into Aids
Legal Help For Hiv Drug Lawsuits
As companies like Gilead continue to sell TDF-based HIV drugs, anyone who uses them should know the risks.
In addition, those who used drugs like Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera, and Stribild and developed long-term or permanent damage to the kidneys or bones should know their legal options.
While these issues are gaining more publicity today, they may not have been known to doctors or consumers when these products first hit the market.
Even worse, Gilead made billions of dollars from TDF drugs while TAF, a safer variant, could have been used.
To learn more about filing an HIV lawsuit, get a free legal case review today.
HIV Drug Justice Editorial Team
HIV Drug Justice educates people about the risks of HIV drugs, which can cause kidney failure and bone damage. Our site is managed by the HIV Drug Justice Editorial Team, a group of concerned writers, editors, journalists, and illustrators. Our team helps readers understand what medical and legal options are available if they used dangerous HIV drugs and developed serious health problems as a result.
Gilead Hiv Drug Kidney & Bone Injuries Litigation
In lawsuits against pharma giant Gilead Sciences, plaintiffs across California allege they suffered kidney injuries and bone injuries from HIV drugs made and distributed by Gilead that were more harmful derivatives than other newer drugs the company had created but would not sell until its stock of the more harmful drugs was exhausted.
Over 22,000 TDF patients have filed lawsuits against Gilead in California state court. This litigation has been consolidated before a single judge in San Francisco Superior Court to streamline the litigation and adjudicate the cases in an efficient manner. Fourteen individual test cases are being scheduled for what are known as bellwether trials, with the goal of moving the overall litigation towards resolution. The first bellwether trial has been scheduled for July 2022, and the parties are still working to identify the additional cases that will serve as bellwethers.
During a July 9, 2021 case management conference held to address various pending issues, the Judge issued several favorable orders for plaintiffs in the litigation, and denied Gileads request for a burdensome set of requirements for obtaining the testimony of plaintiffs facing extreme and urgent health problems who face the risk of not surviving to see their case go to trial, ruling that these special circumstances will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Read Also: Can Hiv Be Transferred Through Saliva
Am I Eligible To File A Tdf Lawsuit Against Gilead Sciences
Do I really have a case?
You may qualify for a claim against the manufacturer if you satisfy the following criteria.
However, we do strongly recommend you speak with one of our experienced product defect attorneys to give more detail about your specific case to get a concrete answer.
- You took one of the TDF medications to treat HIV:
- Stribild
How much is a TDF Lawsuit Settlement Worth?
Contact us for a free consultation. There is no-obligation to proceed. Our attorneys will listen to your situation, and provide you with the legal options available to you. If you choose to proceed, we will fight for your rights zealously. You will owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
If successful, your potential claim could result in a recovery of compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Pain & suffering
- Other related expenses
There are time limits to file these lawsuits, so please do not delay. Contact our attorneys today so you can make an informed decision as to how to proceed.
Rob Jenner, Esq. Jenner Law
Elizabeth Graham, Esq. Grant & Eisenhofer
Joel Bieber, Esq. The Joel Bieber Firm
Michael Monheit, Esq. Monheit Law
Why Should I File A Truvada Side Effects Lawsuit
When a pharmaceutical is made available to the population, it should be safe to use. Truvada and other HIV medications were not. Worse, the drug manufacturer may have even withheld a safer alternative. Now people are suffering as a result.
Filing a Truvada lawsuit might help you to:
- Hold drug companies accountable for their negligence and your illness
- Pursue Truvada compensation for medical expenses or treatment
- Raise awareness of the HIV drugs side effects and prevent others from being hurt too
If you or a loved one took Truvada and experienced bone or kidney problems, Sokolove Law might be able to help you. Get a free legal evaluation for your case by filling out the form on this page.
Recommended Reading: How Long For Hiv To Show Up On Test
Free Consultation With A Hiv Drugs Lawyer
Kidney and bone injuries linked to the HIV drugs Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera and Stribild may have been avoided.
MANUFACTURER: Gilead
OVERVIEW: A series of HIV treatments have been introduced in recent years, involving the compound tenofovir disoproxil fumarate , which allowed the medications to be delivered in a pill form, instead of an injection. These treatments included the blockbuster Gilead HIV drugs:
- Truvada
- Complera
- Stribild
It now appear that Gilead knew that safer version of these HIV drugs could be manufactured and sold, known as tenofovir alafenamide fumarate . However, the drug maker stopped development of this compound in 2004, continuing to introduce toxic TDF drugs without adequately warning about the potential side effects on the kidneys and bones.
It was not until Gilead was nearing the end of patent protection for TDF drugs, and would soon face competition from generic versions of Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera and Stribild, that it resumed development of TAF drugs, which are now marketed as a safer alternative.
Gilead developed an essential monopoly on HIV antiretrovirals, which individuals living with the disease must take to survive, generating over $11 billion in annual sales.
Truvada And Other Hiv Drug Lawsuits
Lawsuits allege that side effects of Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera and Stribild may have been avoided if the manufacturer had not withheld safer versions of the HIV drugs as part of a scheme to maximize profits.
TDF DRUG LAWSUIT STATUS: Product liability lawyers are reviewing potential HIV drug lawsuits for individuals who have suffered:
- Kidney Disease, Kidney Failure or Other Renal Injury
- Bone Fractures
Read Also: Is It Hard To Catch Hiv