TRUVADA – WHAT THEY KNEW, WHEN THEY KNEW IT

When HIV/AIDS first hit, panic ensued as it was first considered a death sentence. The pharmaceutical industry was racing to find a treatment or a cure. TDF (later Viread, Truvada, and other names) entered the market and gave hopes of a potential miracle drug, rendering HIV a chronic disease. However, it caused kidney failure and bone deterioration. It seemed that patients were left with a choice – either death by AIDS or kidney failure and bone loss.  Little did they know that Gilead, the manufacturer of Truvada and other such drugs, had a safer, more effective alternative design in their back pocket – TAF. They sat on this alternative in silence for over a decade and moved forward with TDF drugs in order to maximize the profit from its first patent with TDF.

Gilead’s TDF drugs included – Viread, Truvada, Atripla, Complera, and Stribild, Truvada for PrEP

EARLY INDICATORS OF KIDNEY FAILURE

• Abnormal protein levels in urine
• High creatinine levels
• Abnormal GFR
• Acute Kidney Injury
• Low Kidney Function

Diagnoses: Kidney Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Fanconi Syndrome, Kidney Failure

EARLY INDICATORS OF BONE LOSS

• Bone Density Loss
• Bone Demineralization
• Bone Weakening
• Bone Fracture
• Tooth Loss

Diagnoses: Osteopenia, Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia

WHAT THEY KNEW

Gilead knew that TAF was superior to TDF in both safety and superiority.  Their patent application showed that TAF produced a 10 fold increase in antiviral activity compared to TDF. Gilead knew it had a better option all along and deliberately selected against that option. Profit motivated their decision not to bring TAF to the market since their TDF patent meant big dollars.

WHEN THEY KNEW IT

In 2000, knowing they had a superior, safer alternative to TDF in TAF, they patented TDF.  In 2001, Viread, the first TDF medication went on the market. From 2004-2012, Gilead strung out their patent and released four more TDF drugs, all while knowing TAF was safer and more effective. In July 16, 2012, the FDA approved Truvada® (F/TDF) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually-acquired HIV-1 infection in at-risk adults.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with HIV and have taken Viread, Truvada, Atripla, Complera, Stribild or Truvada for PrEP and have subsequently been diagnosed with kidney disease, chronic kidney disease, Fanconi Syndrome, Kidney Failure, Osteopenia, Osteoporosis, or Osteomalacia, contact us today to see if you qualify to make a claim.

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