Florida Truvada Lawyers

Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a popular HIV drug that was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012. Truvada is used as a form of treatment for those already with HIV.

Unfortunately, the State of Florida has been significantly affected by the HIV virus. In 2017, Florida identified 4,949 new HIV diagnoses. The Florida Department of Health has identified reducing transmission of HIV as one of its priority goals. Florida has adopted a comprehensive strategic approach to prevent HIV transmission to reduce the risk of further transmission of HIV from those diagnosed and living with HIV.

The HIV surveillance program plays a vital role in how Florida determines HIV resource needs, program planning, and evaluation. HIV staff and county partners use this data to plan, carry out, and evaluate HIV programs and interventions.

Chances are, if you are an HIV patient in Florida, you are one of many that have been prescribed Truvada.

If you or someone you love has suffered negative side effects and complications from using the HIV drug, Truvada, contact the Florida Truvada lawsuit attorneys from Onder Law Firm by calling (314) 310-7924 to set up your FREE legal consultation.

About Truvada’s Side Effects

Truvada is an HIV treatment made up of two main medicinal components known as emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). These two elements act to reduce the activity of reverse transcriptase enzymes. These are the enzymes in the human body which allow the HIV virus to replicate and spread.

While Truvada has shown promise as a treatment and as a means to protect high-risk individuals from contracting the virus, it has been uncovered that the drug comes with some serious side effects.

One of the main side effects of Truvada is bone density loss, which can, in turn, result in brittle bones that easily fracture or break. The TDF component within Truvada has been discovered to cause the body to break down the calcium and phosphate within bones at a much more rapid pace than is healthy.

Unfortunately, these side effects were intentionally downplayed and allowed to continue by the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. — even though the company had a safer alternative to Truvada’s main active ingredient.

In time, bone demineralization can lead to:

Discomfort in extremities
Bone deterioration or osteoporosis
Bone loss or osteopenia
Tooth decay and loss
Bone fractures

TDF-based drugs don’t only affect bone, however. For kidneys, the excess calcium that is being removed from the body can cause:

Chronic kidney disease
Declining kidney function/decreased urination
Acute kidney injury
Acute renal failure
Fanconi syndrome
Kidney failure

Florida HIV Patients and Truvada

Florida has a large LGBT population that has been at the forefront of HIV prevention since the 1980s.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if current diagnosis rates continue, 1 in 6 gay and bisexual men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. More specifically, 1 in 4 Latino gay and bisexual men will contract the condition, while 1 in every 2 Black gay and bisexual men will become infected in their lifetimes.

Broward and Miami-Dade Counties are in the middle of the epidemic, while most other counties (41 out of 67) in Florida saw an increase in the number of transmissions.

Additionally:

In Florida, 72% of HIV victims are men and 28% are women
By race/ethnicity, HIV cases in Florida are 46% Black, 28% Hispanic/Latinx, 23% white.
Miami had a new HIV rate nearly four times the national average: 54 new diagnoses of the virus for every 100,000 people — making it the highest new HIV rate in the country.
Other Florida cities in the top ten list for new case rates include Fort Lauderdale at 45, West Palm Beach at 23, and Jacksonville at 26.
Approximately half of all young people living with HIV are unaware that they are infected.
The Florida Department of Health identified men who have sex with men (61 percent), female heterosexual contact (19 percent), and male heterosexual contact (13 percent) as the three leading modes of HIV exposure.

If you live in Florida, have taken Truvada, and are now dealing with serious health issues such as osteoporosis, bone demineralization, kidney damage, or other bone-related health issues, do NOT hesitate to contact the Truvada Florida attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 for a FREE case evaluation.

Why Are People Filing Truvada Lawsuits?

Despite knowing that TAF had lower toxicity and could better treat HIV patients, Gilead chose not to pursue clinical research on it until after the company’s patent on Truvada was close to expiring. Instead, the company continued using the TDF component in its drug, which continued to fuel the company’s revenue and helped it to maintain market dominance.

This meant that while Gilead was protecting its business, HIV patients were unknowingly and unnecessarily taking a drug that would cause permanent side effects to their bones and kidneys.

On several occasions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the company about Truvada’s side effects and its practice of downplaying the potential consequences, as well as making false claims that the drug was safe for individuals who have HIV.

Groups Most Affected by Truvada Side Effects

The state of Florida is known for its diversity and that means a large cross-section to choose from when it comes to HIV risk. Certain groups are at a higher risk of developing HIV or have higher rates of being involved in a relationship with an individual already infected with the virus.

Gay and Bisexual Men

This demographic group is well accounted for in Florida, especially in the HIV epicenters of Miami-Dade and Broward. This group is disproportionately affected by HIV and is thus likely to include a higher rate of individuals who are taking Truvada – and suffering its serious side effects.

African Americans and other Ethnic Minorities

African-Americans and Hispanics make up a significant majority in many parts of Florida, and unfortunately, African-American men that have sex with other men are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. On the other hand, Hispanics have a rate of one in five new HIV infections, which is three times higher than the white community.

Injection Drug Users

Florida has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, HIV can survive on a used needle for up to 42 days, depending on the temperature and other factors.

Women

Heterosexual women who have had contact with an HIV positive partner accounted for over ¼ of all new infections in 2010. This number was more prevalent within ethnic minority communities.

Injection drug abuse also plays a major factor in women contracting the virus, accounting for 14 percent of HIV diagnoses. Also, whether it be from sexual or physical abuse experienced when they were children, adolescents, or adults, trauma is another big factor that plays a role in women contracting the virus.

HIV Patients in the Criminal Justice System

With a large and diverse prison population in Florida, HIV cases are well represented in the criminal justice system. An estimated 1 in 7 individuals that are HIV positive go through the prison system each year, and this segment of the population suffers from high rates of HIV infection.

HIV Patients that Have Used Truvada in Florida

There are thousands of HIV patients who have experienced bone loss due to Truvada in the state of Florida. Our experienced and committed Florida product liability attorney can help determine if the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. is liable for the side effects or injury you have suffered.

There are generally three “types” of product liability claims:

Strict Liability – This refers to negligent actions taken by manufacturers, suppliers, or by the company itself in creating a defective product.
Negligence – When there is not adequate or reasonable care in the design, manufacturing, or marketing processes relating to the defective product.
Breach of Warranty – Focuses on the warranty of the defective product (written or implied) and how the defective product didn’t work as intended, causing injury.

The process of building a case can take time and requires adequate evidence and documentation to determine product liability. Depending on the specific factors of your case, our attorneys will fight to help you secure compensation for, but not limited to, the following damages:

Medical bills (past, present, and future)
Lost wages and future earnings
Pain and suffering
Loss of quality of life
Loss of consortium

The pharmaceutical company, Gilead Sciences Inc. has a responsibility to you. Do NOT let your voice go unheard. The Florida Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm are ready to deliver the results you deserve. Contact us right now at (314) 310-7924 or online for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.