Gilead’s HIV drug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is paramount to those in the LGBTQIA community living with HIV. It also helps those wanting to prevent transmission who take it as PrEP.  People trusted Gilead to keep them safe, but no one knew the TDF medication dangers since the company hid it from everyone.

About TDF

Gilead’s TDF drugs belong to a class of antiretroviral drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that are prescribed to treat HIV. These drugs inhibit the activity of reverse transcriptase. This enzyme slows the progression of HIV. TDF drugs can slow the progression of HIV. Those with HIV need to take anti-viral medication in order to survive. There are currently five TDF medications including Viread, Truvada, Atripla, Complera and Stribild.

TDF Medication Dangers Hurts the LGBTQIA Community

For years, Gilead represented its TDF-based medications as safe and effective. This misleads not only doctors and the medical community but also hundreds of thousands in the LGBTQIA Community. The company swore there wasn’t any safer alternative medication to keep those living with HIV alive. However, the company had one since the 1990s and chose to stop studies until the TDF patent expired in 2018.

Furthermore, Gilead failed to even warn the LGBTQIA Community about the dangers of TDF. There are 1.1 million people living in the United States with HIV/AIDS. Almost 60,000 people have come forward with injuries from TDF meds. The injuries include kidney and bone density issues.

Chronic Kidney Disease Injuries

Nearly 20,000 people taking TDF reported kidney damage. Kidneys are normally resilient to damage, however, when symptoms start, it is hard to reverse them. Kidneys filter wastes from the bloodstream into the urine and out the body. However, those taking TDF reported chronic kidney disease. This prevented the kidneys from effectively filtering the bloodstream.
Symptoms of this include:

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Poor concentration
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Itchy skin
• Need to urinate frequently
• High blood pressure
• Abnormal protein levels in the urine
• High creatinine levels diagnosed by a physician or other healthcare provider
• Abnormal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) levels (15 to 90) as determined by tests and blood work
• Death due to renal failure

Aside from chronic kidney disease, individuals taking Gilead’s TDF drugs are at risk of developing several other kidney-related conditions, including:

• Acute kidney injury (AKI) or acute renal failure (ARF): A kidney disorder in which the kidneys suddenly have difficulty filtering waste from the blood.
• Fanconi syndrome: A kidney tubule disorder that causes excessive levels of glucose, potassium, and bicarbonate to be excreted in the urine.
• Renal tubular acidosis: A kidney condition involving the build-up of acid in the bloodstream due to the kidneys failing to filter it out.

Bone Density Injuries

Those taking Gilead’s TDF reported nearly 10,000 reports of bone density loss. In fact, a 2010 study found:

A strong correlation between loss of bone density in HIV-infected individuals, particularly in conjunction with the antiretroviral drug tenofovir.

Another study from 2016 found that Gilead’s TDF has a 1-3 percent greater bone mineral density loss than other anti-viral drugs. Without new bone tissue replacing the older one, osteoporosis sets in it. This is a condition in which bones are so weak that minor falls or stresses can cause them to fracture.
Common symptoms for osteoporosis and osteopenia include:

• Back pain
• Stooped posture
• Loss of height
• Bone fractures with physician or healthcare provider diagnosis of bone weakening or demineralization
• Bone density loss, bone demineralization, or weakening of the bones diagnosed by a physician or other healthcare provider

TDF Victims

If you or a loved one has been harmed by Gilead TDF medication, you need an attorney with experience helping people who have been harmed by pharmaceutical drugs. The attorneys at the Michael Brady Lynch Firm know what it takes to go up against drug manufacturers to get clients what they need.

If a jury finds the conduct of a drug company in manufacturing and selling a drug to be reckless, they may award punitive damages to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future. Therefore, if you developed kidney issues after taking TDF meds, please speak to us to learn more about your rights.

You deserve compensation. It can never replace what you have lost. But, it can help you recover medical expenses, lost wages and the loss of an ability to work. The consultation is completely free, and you are under zero obligation. We are available 24/7 to take your call.