Iowa Truvada Lawsuit Attorneys

The human immunodeficiency virus, known widely as HIV, is one of the most sensationalized, feared, and politicized diseases of the last century.

Although this illness was believed to originate a century ago, in 1980 it became a topic of global conversation when it began spreading at an alarming rate throughout the United States. The first popular case appeared in Los Angeles within the LGBTQ+ community. Through the years, HIV began to appear in various regions and populations.

Not only has it robbed nearly 40 million lives, but it has furthered stigmas around the LGBTQ+ community, minorities, and those living in poverty. These stigmas only made it more difficult for those infected to acquire proper treatment.

However, recent advancements in medicine have made it possible to manage HIV through antiretroviral therapy (ART). Within this category of over two dozen approved drugs, you will find the medication, Truvada.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Truvada in 2004, and it has been one of the most popular HIV medications in use since. According to NBC news , usage of Truvada has risen 500 percent in the last few years. Globally, nearly half a million people are taking Truvada. Not only has this been perceived as a major step towards the elimination of HIV, but it has proven to be an extremely profitable business. For a mere month of treatment, Truvada costs a whopping $2,000.

Gilead Sciences, responsible for the manufacturing of Truvada, also sells various other various other highly popular HIV medications such as Viread and Atripla.

However, with these advancements have come grave consequences.

It has recently come to light that Truvada is responsible for causing life-threatening health conditions in its users. Dozens upon dozens of victims across the United States have filed lawsuits accusing Gilead Sciences of knowingly distributing Truvada in spite of being aware of a number of defects.

These victims have shined a light on the drug as a catalyst for increased risks of bone damage, kidney failure, and conditions such as osteoporosis.

Thus far, over 40 cases of Truvada users filing lawsuits against Gilead Sciences have emerged with plaintiffs claiming the company manufactured and sold a defective product.

If you or a loved one have suffered kidney or bone damage after taking Truvada, know that you are deserving of truth, justice, and legal counsel.

Gilead Sciences Inc. must be held responsible for the release of this defective drug. Not only are you entitled to compensation needed to help you recover, but you will join the cries of millions protesting the manipulative profit-seeking tactics of the pharmaceutical industry.

Contact the formidable Iowa Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 today for a FREE, no-obligation case evaluation.

The Health Risks Associated with Truvada

Prior to beginning antiretroviral therapy, patients are lightly warned against the adverse side effects possible for those:

1. With a history of pathologic fractures.
2. With risk factors for bone loss.
3. With a history of kidney problems such as a creatinine clearance level <60 mL/min.

The reason for these precautions is due to the tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) compound in medicines like Truvada.

TDF acts to prevent the spread of HIV by reducing the activity of the reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme. RT is responsible for replicating the virus and furthering infection, so its management is absolutely necessary for preventing the development of AIDS.

Unfortunately, TDF is only effective when taken in large doses. This is where a handful of Truvada’s dangers health effects begin. When excess TDF begins building up in the kidneys, a host of health concerns can develop, including:

• Decrease in urination
• Renal failure
• Kidney failure
• Fanconi syndrome (unusual urine excretions of excess glucose, uric acid, potassium, bicarbonate, phosphates, and/ or amino acids)
• Kidney disease

Signs that you may be suffering injury to the kidneys include:

• Anemia
• Fatigue and lethargy
• Muscle cramping
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained or constant bruising
• A yellowing of the eyes and skin known as jaundice
• Issues with urination
• Skin rashes
• Difficulties with digestion
• Nausea and diarrhea
• Darkened urine

These kidney-related injuries are also accompanied by claims of bone weakening and demineralization. Subsequently, one can suffer bone fractures, osteoporosis, or unexplained weakness.

Signs that you may be suffering injury to your bones include:

• Bone pain
• Poor posture
• Collapse in the backbone vertebrae
• Muscle weakness/ pain
• Spontaneous backaches

Because Truvada has only been available to the public for less than two decades, these aforementioned side effects that have been reported have not been monitored over long term use. It is highly likely that this drug can be lethal over time, although it was supposedly introduced to save lives in the midst of an HIV/AIDS crisis.

Words cannot even begin to describe how wildly unfair it is for a corporation to take advantage of a health epidemic in order to cash out on the pain and suffering of those already in a precarious situation.

Do NOT allow Gilead Sciences to take advantage of you. If you have been prescribed Truvada, live in Iowa, and have begun to suffer from bone and/or kidney-related damages, contact the trustworthy team of Onder Law Firm today. With over $3 billion collected for our clients, we know how to get the job done right.

HIV Statistics in Iowa

AIDSVu, a website designed by Emory University for HIV/AIDS awareness, provides statistics detailing the prevalence of the disease throughout the nation. Below are the figures provided as of 2016 for the State of Iowa.

• Of the 3.132 million people living in Iowa, there are approximately 2,555 people living with HIV.
• Men are predominantly affected, making up a whopping 78.6% of all diagnoses.
• While African Americans only comprise 3.5 percent of Iowans, they disproportionately comprise 19.9% of those affected by HIV.
• The rate of African American women living with HIV is 25.3 times that of their White counterparts.
• While Latinx/Hispanic people only make up 5.9 percent of the population, they also face disproportionate numbers of diagnoses. They account for 9.7 percent of all individuals living with HIV in Iowa.
• White people make up 86.1 percent of the Iowan population and 62.7 percent of those living with HIV.
• 914 people are taking the HIV preventative PrEP as of 2018.
• 31 people died of HIV in 2016.
• There were 126 new HIV diagnoses in 2017.
• The causes of HIV among men ranked from most to least prevalent are Male-to-Male Sexual Contact, Male-to-Male Sexual Contact & Injection Drug Use, Heterosexual Contact, and Injection Drug Use.
• Among women, these causes were Heterosexual Contact and Injection Drug Use.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of HIV diagnoses for young black gay and bisexual men grew 5.8 percent more than that of the overall population in 2016.

Given these precarious numbers, it’s no surprise that pharmaceutical companies see HIV as a profitable business opportunity.

One of the most incriminating pieces of evidence is that as lawsuits against these TDF-based drugs began piling up, Gilead emerged with a safer alternative – a tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) based drug. Gilead announced the alternative in 2015 – 20 years and billions of dollars after Truvada initially became approved.

Many who suffered the complications of Truvada believe that the company was aware of the major health risks associated with TDF, and that Gilead Sciences knowingly put millions of lives at risk.

Let Us Lead You to Justice

Our Iowa defective drug lawsuit attorneys are experienced in dealing with the injustices and negligent actions taken by pharmaceutical companies. We have the competence, experience, and the nerve to stand up to the nation’s most powerful pharmaceutical companies.

In product liability cases against Truvada, your legal compensation can be vital in covering expenses related to:

• Loss of income in the past, present, or future
• Medical expenses such as surgeries, medications, medical devices, or basic check-ups
• Emotional or physical anguish
• Loss of companionship or consortium
• Wrongful death

As soon as you suspect that you are developing an injury or illness related to your usage of Truvada, visit a doctor immediately. Keep detailed records of your medical expenses, treatments, and symptoms.

Additionally, be sure to file a claim immediately in order to improve your likelihood of compensation. In Iowa, product liability claims must be filed within two years of contact with the defective product.

You must also be sure to avoid accepting half-hearted settlements, which might not even begin to cover the various expenses associated with bone and kidney damage. In severe cases, your medical expenses could climb up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars range. Acting fast can keep these numbers at bay.

If you stick to these guidelines, in addition to allowing our compassionate team of attorneys serve you, you will find the process of coping with your physical, financial, and emotional losses to be far more manageable.

Gilead must face the consequences of exploiting some of the nation’s most vulnerable communities. Your case will inspire larger conversations and movements against crooked corporations.

For more information, and a FREE legal consultation, contact the trustworthy Iowa Truvada Lawsuit Attorneys of Onder Law Firm today at (314) 310-7924.