Gilead Truvada (Tenofovir) Lawsuit for Kidney, Bone, & Teeth Injuries

It has been almost 45 years since the first cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were reported. Since then, the condition has taken a devastating toll on humanity, infecting more than 88 million people globally and killing more than 42 million.

Although treatment advances have transpired over the years, HIV has remained a lethal health concern around the world. According to one estimate, 1.3 million people were infected with HIV in 2023. Sadly, 630,000 people around the world died of HIV-related complications that year. Of those, 4,496 occurred in the United States.

The good news, health experts say, is that there has been a “steady decline” in the annual infection rate in the United States. While that rate remained at approximately 50,000 for many years, they explain, it had dropped to 39,201 in 2023. Health experts credit the use of “newer preventive strategies like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and HIV treatment as prevention” for the drop in new infections.

PrEP includes the administration of prescription medications such as Truvada when given to someone before they are potentially exposed to HIV. Truvada is also used to treat HIV once someone has been infected.

However, plaintiffs in many lawsuits now claim that Truvada causes serious kidney and bone damage. Keep reading to learn more about filing a Truvada (tenofovir) lawsuit.

What’s In Truvada And How Does It Work?

Made by Gilead Sciences, Truvada is a tablet that should be taken once a day alone or with similar medications as prescribed. It contains two key ingredients, namely the antirthe etroviral medications tenofovir disoproxi and emtricitabine.

Like other tenofovir based antiretroviral medications, Truvada is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or NRTI. NRTIs keep the HIV virus from replicating in the patient’s body, thereby preventing transmission and boosting the immune system.

Research has determined that effective treatment occurs when someone who has taken Truvada and other HIV antiretrovirals for at least six months has an untraceable amount of the virus.

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Serious Truvada Side Effects

Truvada (tenofovir) is also known to have serious side effects including but not limited to kidney damage and bone loss.

Bone or muscle pain, fatigue, weakness, vomiting and infrequent urination are some symptoms of kidney injuries. Bone loss symptoms include receding gums, weak and/or brittle fingernails, and decreased grip strength.

One of the allegations made against Gilead in Truvada lawsuits is that the company knew or should have known that Truvada containing tenofovir was “highly toxic in the doses prescribed and risked permanent and possibly fatal damage to the kidneys and bones.” This is because several studies have demonstrated that Truvada and similar drugs containing tenofovir are “highly toxic to the kidneys and bones and can cause permanent kidney failure and bone fractures.”

A lot of the lawsuits also allege that even though Gilead did list bone loss and kidney issues as side effects of Truvada, “took steps to minimize what it knew to be substantial and significant risks in its communications with patients and doctors.”

Are You Eligible To File A Truvada (Tenofovir) Lawsuit?

Truvada litigation has been taking place in state and federal courts throughout the United States for seven years.

According to a 2024 article published on Forbes.com, the AIDS Health Foundation (AHF), assisted in the filing of one of the first class action lawsuits concerning Truvada and similar drugs on behalf of patients who had purchased these medications. Filed in California state court, the 2018 lawsuit alleged that Gilead misled patients and healthcare providers by downplaying the drug’s known dangers. As of April 2024, than 26,000 plaintiffs have reportedly filed Truvada lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide.

Some of the legal grounds for these lawsuits have been design defect and failure to warn; negligence and gross negligence; fraud by omission; and state consumer protection law violations.

You may be able to file a Truvada (tenofovir) lawsuit if you took Truvada for the treatment or prevention of HIV for at least six months and are now suffering from serious kidney injuries or bone loss.

Take the first step by contacting Van Law Firm to schedule a free consultation. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys have the skills and experience needed to assess your specific circumstances and determine whether you have a viable Truvada (tenofovir) kidney injury or bone loss case. If so, we will share all of your legal options so you can make an informed decision about what is best for you. Don’t miss out on the chance to get the compensation you deserve. Contact Van Law Firm today.