Gilead Sciences TDF Lawsuit

Individuals taking Gilead's HIV drug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) may have been diagnosed by a physician or other healthcare provider with kidney disease and/or bone density loss. Our attorneys are investigating allegations that Gilead knew its TDF drugs could potentially harm users, but withheld a less toxic version of the drug from the market in an effort to maximize TDF drug profits.

If you took one or more of Gilead’s TDF drugs — Truvada, Viread, Atripla, Complera, and Stribild — and was diagnosed by a physician or other healthcare provider with kidney issues and/or bone density loss, you may be eligible for compensation through a lawsuit against Gilead. Previously, our class action attorneys have helped victims of other dangerous drugs — such as Kombiglyze XR — recover compensation, and they may also be able to help you.

TDF Drugs for HIV Treatment

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, an enzyme that is crucial in the replication and progression of HIV.

In combination with other medications, TDF drugs can slow the progression of HIV and keep HIV-positive individuals healthy for many years, according to the Center for Disease Control. Not taking antiretroviral drugs isn’t an option for HIV-positive individuals, even if they come with serious side effects.

At this time, there are five Gilead TDF drugs available to people infected with HIV:

• Viread
• Truvada
• Atripla
• Complera
• Stribild

How Have People Been Harmed by Gilead’s TDF Drugs?

Individuals taking one or more of Gilead's TDF drugs allegedly have an increased risk of developing kidney issues and experiencing bone density loss.

Chronic Kidney Disease Injuries

Since Gilead’s first TDF drug came to market, nearly 20,000 people taking one or more of the drug manufacturer’s TDF drugs have allegedly been diagnosed with kidney disease by a physician or other healthcare provider. Kidney damage is a particularly dangerous side effect because the kidneys are resilient and adapt so easily when damaged that symptoms only begin appearing once irreversible damage has already occurred.

...nearly 20,000 people taking one or more of the drug manufacturer’s TDF drugs have allegedly been diagnosed with kidney disease.

Kidneys are one of the body’s most important organs because they filter electrolytes, wastes, and fluid from the bloodstream into urine, and out of the body. Chronic kidney disease prevents the kidneys from effectively filtering the bloodstream, and waste can build up to dangerously high levels if left unaddressed. In the most severe cases of chronic kidney disease, people will need to undergo dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Common symptoms of kidney failure 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 excess 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 failure to filter it out.

Bone Density Injuries

Since 2009, there have been nearly 6,000 reports of bone breaks allegedly connected to TDF use.

Shortly after Gilead released Viread — its first TDF drug to reach the market — studies began correlating its use to bone density loss. One 2010 study found{: target="_blank"} that “a strong correlation between loss of bone density in HIV-infected individuals, particularly in conjunction with the antiretroviral drug tenofovir.”

A more recent study, published in 2016, announced similar findings, stating{: target="_blank"} “Several studies have demonstrated an approximately 1–3 percent greater bone mineral density loss with TDF compared with other agents.”

Since 2009, there have been nearly 6,000 reports of bone breaks allegedly connected to TDF use.

Bone tissue never stops growing because new tissue is necessary to replace older tissue. When old tissue deteriorates faster than new tissue can grow, or new tissue stops growing altogether, people can develop osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones are so weak that minor falls or stresses can cause them to fracture.

TDF users have alleged they developed osteopenia after taking the HIV drug, a precursor condition to osteoporosis in which bone density levels fall below their peak levels. 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