HIV drug lawsuits have been filed by two California men living with HIV who suffered bone and kidney damage as a result of taking a Gilead HIV drug containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).
The first plaintiff, Lujano, took a TDF drug from 2004 to 2015. The following year he was diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis of the spine, hip, and neck at the age of 35.
The second plaintiff, Johnathan Gary, took the drug for 10 years and was then diagnosed with Fanconi syndrome — a rare kidney disorder in 2010. Last year Johnathan was diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis. He is 59.
July 2018 — a Truvada lawsuit was filed by a 26-year-old man who was diagnosed with osteopenia and bone fractures after taking Gilead’s HIV drug. The suit alleges that the drug manufacturer should have warned him of the serious risk to his bone health.
An HIV drug lawsuit alleges that the drugmaker Gilead suppressed a safer version of the drug (that had far less toxicity) from the public in order to maximize profits for the TDF version. They also misrepresented the drug’s efficacy and risks.
Some patients have suffered for over 10 years — accumulating kidney and bone toxicity while the company kept this safer version from the public.
What Are The Side Effects Of Gilead’s TDF HIV Drugs?
If you have taken one of the following of Gilead’s tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) drugs listed below and then suffered from kidney disease and/or bone density loss — you may be entitled to compensation:
- Truvada
- Viread
- Atripla
- Complera
- Stribild
What Are The Kidney Injuries?
- Chronic kidney disease
- Acute kidney injury
- Acute renal failure
- Fanconi syndrome
- Tubular dysfunction
What Are The Bone Injuries?
- Osteoporosis
- Osteopenia
- Bone fractures
Gilead Hid HIV Drug Risks To Maximize Profits
The FDA approved Gilead’s TDF as an oral HIV medication in October 2001. Gilead allegedly knew as far back as this that TDF could cause serious side effects because it had to be given in such high doses to be effective due to its low bioavailability. Excess TDF in the body is absorbed by the bones and kidneys.
They tested a new formula tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) in April 2001 which achieved the same therapeutic effect of their TDF drug but with safer results.
Gilead continued to market TDF, however, to maximize the profits of this drug and shelved TAF. The company earned billions each year and it became one of the most prescribed HIV medications in the country.
The Los Angeles Times reported that by shelving the less toxic drug TAF, Gilead could then patent the drug separately and use it when the TDF patent ran out in 20 years.
A Less Harmful HIV Drug
In November 2015, the FDA approved Gilead’s TAF drug in a single-tablet combination pill called Genvoya. TAF is also in the HIV single-tablet regimes Biktarvy and Descovy.
The company is now telling doctors to have patients switch to this HIV drug to reduce the risk of harm to their kidneys and bones.
Can I File An HIV Drug Lawsuit?
If you, or a loved one, has taken one of the HIV drug containing TDF and subsequently suffered from kidney or bone injuries you may be able to file an HIV drug lawsuit. Fill out the form on this page so we can discuss your legal options with one of our HIV lawyers.