Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a form treatment used by individuals diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Part of an ART regimen is that patients take a combination of HIV drugs.
Truvada is a HIV treatment medication that contains two drug components, which are emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). These drugs are both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). NRTIs, also known as “nukes”, work by interfering with the replication process of HIV cells.
The drug, which was approved by the FDA in 2004, is manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc. This biotechnical pharmaceutical company manufactures various products that include additional antiretroviral drugs. These HIV drugs have largely contributed to Gilead’s branding, with Truvada dominating the market. Up to 80 percent of HIV-diagnosed persons in the United States will begin treatment with Gilead drugs.
Healthcare providers will generally suggest that those who have been diagnosed with HIV should start an ART plan because the infection can progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated.
While Truvada is intended to help those diagnosed with HIV to better manage their condition, unfortunately, one of the key ingredients – TDF – has been associated with dangerous side effects that can lead to life-threatening injuries including bone and kidney damage.
If you have suffered from Truvada-related bone or kidney damage, call the Atlanta Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 today for your FREE case review. Hope is just a phone call away.
Generally, those who begin ART are those who have been diagnosed as HIV-positive. Throughout the nation, there are common trends amongst groups who are at a higher risk of being affected by the condition and thus face higher rates of HIV diagnoses.
According to the organization AIDSVu, in Atlanta:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked metro Atlanta as having the fourth-highest HIV rate in the United States in 2016.
Individuals taking this antiretroviral have experienced bone demineralization that can cause a 2 to 6 percent loss within the first couple years of treatment. In the initial stages of bone loss, individuals begin to suffer from a condition known as osteopenia.
Osteopenia is a condition where your bone mass declines and the bones become fragile. Although bone loss and growth is a natural process, the TDF in Truvada can exacerbate the breaking down of bone mass and result in users having an increased susceptibility to fractures and breaks.
When the condition continues unchecked, users can begin to suffer from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is what happens once bone demineralization has already become so severe that even the slightest incident can cause a bone fracture.
Unfortunately, individuals might not know they have these conditions until they experience a fracture.
Bone-related health issues which Truvada users have suffered from include:
The kidneys are a pair of organs which are essential to the removal and filtration of toxins and waste from the body. Truvada can cause stress on the kidneys as they try to filter out the abundance of TDF. Unfortunately, over time, the constant use of the drug can lead to kidney damage and failure.
One study revealed that each year that a patient takes Truvada, the risk for kidney failure increases by 33%. The reduced capacity to filter the blood can result in renal disease and progress to total kidney failure if not treated.
Kidney issues which individuals have suffered from using Truvada include:
Speak with your physician if you believe you are suffering from kidney damage, then contact our dedicated and qualified team of Truvada lawsuit attorneys in Atlanta at (314) 310-7924 for a FREE case evaluation.
Gilead Sciences, Inc., has been questioned for many of its business tactics in the past. This includes the high prices they have set on Truvada. Although medical insurances will generally cover it, Truvada can cost as much as $13,000 per month for those who are uninsured.
The drug formula within Truvada has also come under controversy. The active ingredient, TDF, has a low absorption rate. This means that high quantities of it are necessary for it to be effective. Of course, this is what causes the health issues for users.
Additionally, information has surfaced that the company intentionally withheld a safer alternative to TDF for the sake of profits. The alternative drug is called tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF).
TAF is just as effective as TDF and can be taken in lower doses. The company is said to have had the drug as early as 2001, however, it was shelved and not made known to the public until 2015.
Hundreds of Truvada patients who have faced injuries have begun to file their claims against the company, alleging that Gilead Sciences intentionally withheld the true dangers of the drug and withheld a safer alternative simply for the sake of profits.
In 2018, two men from California filed a class-action lawsuit against Gilead. Their claims allege that the pharmaceutical giant knew of the toxicity of TDF, yet, they continued to market the product as completely safe and without any potential to cause bone or kidney damage.
The two plaintiffs have also placed fault on Gilead for the bone and kidney injuries they have suffered.
The class-action lawsuit initiated by these two individuals seeks to bring together Truvada patients who have been harmed by the drug.
Class-action lawsuits represent clients with similar situations who have been harmed by the same defendant. These lawsuits pool together resources and collect evidence of the defendant’s negligence to hold them accountable.
Although it requires much work to hold such a big company liable, victims of Truvada injuries can benefit from filing their own personal product liability injury claims. These claims focus on one individual’s situation and the specific harm brought to them by the defendant.
Types of product defects which can constitute grounds for a product liability claim against a drug manufacturer include:
Victims of defective product injuries should know that they have two years to file their claim, as per Georgia’s product liability statute of limitations. If you do plan on taking legal action, do so in a timely manner.
When an individual is harmed by a defective drug, they can face physical injuries, emotional pain, mental distress, and financial damages. The company who developed, manufactured, or marketed the drug can be held responsible for the harm they have caused you.
Although there is no designated amount of compensation that may be recovered in a Truvada lawsuit, know that there are certain damages which may be compensable and add value to your claim.
Victims of Truvada, both those injured and those who have lost a loved one due to Truvada injuries, may be eligible to recover the following damages, including but not limited to:
Those who attempt to treat their HIV should not have to fear or face bone and kidney damages as a result of trying to protect their health. Holding huge pharma companies accountable for their actions is no easy task, but it is necessary to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.
Pursuing legal action can also help victims to recover compensation for physical, emotional, and other financial damages.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by Truvada, know that the road to recovery lies ahead with the help of the compassionate and dedicated defective drug attorneys of Onder Law Firm.
Contact the Atlanta Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm right now at (314) 310-7924 to get your zero-cost, zero-obligation case evaluation today.
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