In 2001, the Federal Drug Administration approved TDF, also referred to as tenofovir DF which is manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Recently, new lawsuits were filed by HIV patients. They claim that Gilead Sciences, Inc. failed to provide adequate warnings about some of the severe side effects of TDF. They also allege that Gilead purposely delayed the development of a drug that was much safer to raise their profits.

 

What are TDF and Viread?

The drug TDF got approval from the FDA for the treatment of HIV in adults. In 2008, the FDA then went on to approve TDF for patients with chronic hepatitis B. Then in 2012, the FDA went a step further and passed TDF for use in children over the age of 2. 

TDF, a.k.a. Tenofovir DF belongs to a group of drugs used to treat HIC called “nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors” (NRTIs.) They work by blocking an HIV enzyme called “reverse transcriptase.” It’s supposed to keep HIV from multiplying to reduce the number of HIV cells in the body. 

Because TDF has low bioavailability, meaning your body does not easily absorb it, higher doses are required for the drug to be effective. However, studies have linked higher doses of TDF to the increased risk of kidney and bone problems.

Viread was the first brand name of TDF that Gilead sold. Later they combined it with other HIV drugs and sold I under different brands including Atripla, Truvada, Stribild, and Complera

 

What About Newer Less-Toxic HIV Drugs?

According to an LA Times article, Gilead was aware very soon that the drug TDF could cause a patient to suffer severe injuries to their kidneys and bones. As Viread came on the market, Gilead’s scientists were working on a new, safer drug for HIV patients, that may be less toxic.

Gilead went as far as doing clinical trials and sending samples to doctors to give to their HIV patients. The new drug worked well, but Gilead suppressed the results of those studies and stopped researching the safer drug in 2004.

 Two TDF lawsuits in California alleges that Gilead stalled the publication of their study results on TAF, the newer, safer drug until the patent on TDF expired.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation issued a press release claiming that Gilead “deliberately and maliciously suppressed from the market its alternate and newer formulation of the drug, TAF, to extend the patent life – and sales- of its existing medications that included TDF.

In November of 2015 Gilead applied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a new TAF medication. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, Genvoya, which has TAF in combination with three other medications.

The patent for TDF expired in 2018, and soon after the new TAF-combo drugs reached the market, Gilead increased the prices for some of their TAF based drugs, making them more expensive.

 

What Kind of Injuries are Associated with TDF Medications like Viread? 

There have been many types of injuries associated with TDF medications like Viread. Some of the most severe include:

  • Chronic kidney disease
  •  Osteoporosis
  •  Kidney damage and failure
  •  Fanconi Syndrome – this is a kidney tubule function disorder
  •  Osteopenia
  •  Bone Fractures

 

What About the TDF HIV Drug Lawsuits?

In 2016 the Aids Healthcare Foundation filed their lawsuit against the manufacturer of TDF, Gilead. In their lawsuit, they allege that Gilead delayed the development of the perhaps safer medication TAF to extend the time many patients took TDF.

The Aids Healthcare Foundation also claimed that Gilead could have released TAF sooner to benefit HIV patients but put profits before people. For almost ten years, Gilead allowed patients to take the risky drug TDF when they could have reduced the possibility of HIV patients to suffer from kidney disease and bone disease.

In July of 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted the motion by Gilead to dismiss the case. However, the Aids Healthcare Foundation filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2018, the Aids Healthcare Foundation filed two new cases in California. Two people living with HIV recorded the first and took TDF. They eventually suffered from kidney and bone damage.

The second case is a class action lawsuit also filed by two HIV patients who took TDF and later suffered from kidney and bone damage.

If you or a loved one has HIV, took TDF, and later suffered kidney and bone damage, or any other severe injury caused by the drug, you may be able to file a lawsuit to recover damages. The New York law firm of Gary Falkowitz is investigating cases involving TDF and will be a strong advocate for you to receive all the compensation you deserve.