Truvada Lawsuit Lawyers

Get Legal Help With Truvada Lawsuit Claims From Experienced Attorneys

Gilead Sciences Inc., maker of the TDF-based medications Truvada, Atripla, Viread, Stribild, and Complera, is facing numerous lawsuits, many of which allege that Gilead failed to adequately warn patients taking their TDF medications to prevent or treat HIV or potentially dangerous side effects. The claims state that Gilead engaged in an ongoing misrepresentation of the effectiveness of their TDF medications and accuse the company of delaying the release of a safer alternative named tenofovir alafenamide (TAF).

At Parker Waichman LLP, our national law firm is filing Truvada lawsuit claims on behalf of patients who were prescribed Truvada, Atripla, Viread, Stribild or Complera and suffered side effects such as bone loss or kidney damage. If you or a loved one have been prescribed a TDF medication and suffered bone injuries or kidney damage, contact us for help with your Truvada lawsuit: Lawyers with our firm can help you pursue justice through the court system and seek monetary compensation. Call 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) or contact us online for free TDF claim review today.

What Is TDF Medication?

The HIV drug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is used in Truvada, Atripla, Viread, Stribild, and Complera. TDF is part of a group of antiretroviral drugs known as NRTIs, or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

What Are TDF HIV Medications Used For?

Truvada and other TDF medications are used to reduce the spread of HIV throughout the body when combined with safer sex practices. TDF is also prescribed as a preventative for people at high risk of contracting HIV, a regimen known as PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis. In addition, TDF has been FDA-approved to treat chronic hepatitis B.

TDF’s FDA Approval and Action Timeline

• March 2004: Gilead Sciences submits FDA applications for its new TDF drug called Viread.
• August 2004: Truvada is FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV infections in adult patients.
• July 2012: Truvada is approved by the FDA for use in reducing the risk of HIV transmission in adults.
• May 2018: FDA approval of Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is expanded to include adolescent patients.

What Are the Side Effects of Truvada and Other HIV Drugs?

Truvada can cause many side effects, including nausea, stomach pain or dizziness, but the most troubling side effects include potential damage to the kidneys or bones. Lawsuits pending against Gilead Sciences cite cases of bone demineralization and kidney disease. Some lawsuits also note the potential for a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream caused by taking TDF, which can be life-threatening.

The following are some of the serious TDF side effects that our firm is investigating for potential litigation.

Bone Injuries

• Demineralization of bones
• Osteoporosis
• Osteopenia
• Osteomalacia
• Bone fractures
• Rib fractures
• Jaw fractures
• Knee fractures
• Ankle fractures
• Femur fractures
• Finger fractures
• Toe fractures
• Shoulder fractures
• Hip fractures
• Wrist fractures
• Leg fractures
• Spine fractures
• Low bone density
• Weakness of bones
• Decrease in height
• Spine curvature
• Tooth decay
• Dental problems

Kidney Issues

• Kidney dysfunction
• Kidney failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Kidney damage
• Renal failure
• Dangerously high levels of creatinine
• Fanconi syndrome
• Proteinuria
• Reduction in kidney function
• Stage 3 kidney disease
• Tubular dysfunction
• Excruciating pain in kidneys and lower back
• Low glomerular filtration rate levels
• Hypophosphatemia
• Damage to the nephron tubule
• Proximal tubulopathy
• Acute tubular necrosis
• Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
• Polyuria
• Nephritis

Truvada and Kidney Problems: Does Truvada Cause Kidney Damage?

In some patients, especially those with preexisting kidney issues, studies have shown that taking TDF can cause impaired kidney function or even outright kidney failure.

In October 2013, the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) published a report that concluded that there is a link between TDF and an increased risk of tubular toxicity. Tubular toxicity leads to acute tubular necrosis. Research has shown that when a patient is taken off of TDF drugs, the condition reverses itself within a few months and kidney function improves. The JASN study linked TDF to other renal diseases as well, such as acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF).

Tenofovir and Bone Fragility

In May 2017, a report published in the journal Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS detailed the results of studies showing that TDF reduced bone density at a greater rate than other similar medications in the first year of antiretroviral therapy. The report also looked at the effects of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), a newer drug developed by Gilead Sciences for the same uses as TDF, and concluded that while research is not yet conclusive, TAF appears to have lower bone toxicity.

Does Truvada Cause Weight Loss?

Truvada can cause weight loss for some people, but it’s not a widespread side effect. PrEP research has shown that only 2.2% of participants experience significant weight loss while taking Truvada. Most studies indicate that Truvada has a limited effect on fat and cholesterol.

Does Truvada Increase Creatinine?

No: The problem with Truvada is not that it directly raises creatinine levels but that it impairs kidney function, which then causes levels of creatinine to increase. Creatinine is a waste product that is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, but if kidney function is impaired, this waste can build up in the bloodstream.

A Safer Alternative to TDF Treatment

The TDF-based treatment protocol was replaced in 2015 with a new treatment protocol using the drug tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF). TAF-based treatments appear to have fewer potential side effects and require smaller dosages for treating or preventing HIV.

Truvada lawsuit claims are based on the contention that TDF manufacturer Gilead Sciences “slow-walked” the research and development of TAF drugs so that they could continue to make a profit off of TDF medications. Those who filed a Truvada lawsuit allege that Gilead knew that TDF presented risks of potentially life-threatening complications and that TAF was a safer alternative but continued to distribute the more dangerous TDF medications.

TDF Lawsuits in the News

• May 2018: A lawsuit is filed by Devin Martinez and Ricardo Wohler against Gilead Sciences in the Supreme Court of the State of California (Los Angeles County).
• April 2019: A lawsuit is filed against Gilead Sciences in San Mateo County Superior Court. The lawsuit was brought by 50 patients who claim that the TDF drugs manufactured by Gilead Sciences exposed them to severe side effects such as bone fractures and kidney diseases. According to the TDF lawsuit, Truvada’s potential dangers were known to its maker as early as 2001, prompting the company to create a newer medication that was safer. But they continued to market TDF drugs as effective without adequate warnings to patients.
• May 2019: Parker Waichman begins offering free case reviews for patients who were prescribed Truvada, Atripla, Viread, Stribild, or Complera and suffered side effects such as bone loss or kidney damage. Our experienced defective drug lawyers believe that those who were harmed by these medications may be entitled to a Truvada lawsuit.

How Can The Attorneys at Parker Waichman Help Me?

At Parker Waichman, our legal professionals understand how your TDF-related injuries have negatively affected your quality of life. Our Truvada lawsuit attorneys can help victims of deceitful drug corporations like Gilead Sciences hold them accountable for their gross negligence.

If you pursue a Truvada lawsuit or an individual case, you or your loved one could receive the following types of monetary compensation:

• Lost future earnings, if you or your loved one is unable to return to work
• Past treatment expenses for TDF-related injuries
• Future medical expenses should you or your loved one need additional treatment for TDF-related injuries
• Monetary compensation for emotional and physical suffering incurred due to TDF-related injuries
• Loss of consortium damages if the TDF-related injuries have affected your marriage, including loss of affection, love, companionship, or support
• Punitive damages, which could be awarded to punish the manufacturers for negligent actions.

Contact Our Lawyers Today for a Free TDF Bone Fracture or Kidney Damage Case Review

If you or a loved one suffered kidney damage, renal failure, and/or bone fractures and were prescribed one or more Gilead Sciences TDF drugs, like Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera, or Stribild, contact us today to explore your options. You’ll pay nothing out of pocket for our services: Consultations are always free, and we work on a contingency-fee basis. We’ll take on all of the financial risk in handling your Truvada case.

At Parker Waichman, we’re fiercely dedicated to protecting rights of injury victims, and our firm has an established reputation for results. If you or a loved one took an HIV drug containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and suffered a severe side effect, contact our firm today for a free legal consultation by calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

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