Kansas Truvada Lawsuit Attorneys

Prior to the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), individuals who became infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were likely to succumb to serious and painful side effects of the infection. When not properly treated, HIV can easily turn fatal.

While HIV was of particular concern throughout the 1980s and 90s, the early 2000s saw the development of antiretroviral drugs like Truvada.

Truvada was first approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in August of 2004. The drug is composed of several chemical components including two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

NRTIs work to stop the division and replication of the virus.

The medicine was developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., a pharmaceutical manufacturer that has gained recognition – and notoriety – for its antiviral treatments. Since its FDA approval in 2004, the drug has become one of the most prescribed antiretroviral medications.

While Truvada has been fundamental in reducing the spread of the infection in patients, that is not all that it has done. The TDF component in the drug has been linked to dangerous side effects including bone demineralization and kidney-related damage.

For a cost-free, no-strings-attached legal consultation, contact the trustworthy Kansas Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm by calling (314) 310-7924 right now.

The Dangers of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF)

Truvada is a once-daily prescription. It is recommended to be taken in combination with other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and HIV medications to be most effective.

NRTIs do not allow the particular enzyme which supports the replication of HIV infected cells to function as it should. The reverse transcriptase enzyme assists in the formation of RNA from DNA in a process known as transcription. When this process takes place in HIV cells, it allows the virus to spread and further negatively affects the infected individual.

Although TDF is an effective NRTI, clinical research has shown that the drug can be highly toxic when consumed in substantial amounts.

And, unfortunately, the TDF in Truvada is quite potent.

If you live in Kansas and were prescribed Truvada to help you manage your condition but have since begun to suffer from bone and/or kidney damages, do not hesitate to contact the Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm for a FREE consultation. Time is truly of the essence and helping you secure the compensation you need to protect your health is our number one priority.

The Side Effects of Truvada

Gilead Sciences, Inc., does provide some warning about commonly experienced side effects of Truvada. In addition, they advise how certain pre-existing conditions may worsen while taking the HIV drug.

Common side effects of Truvada that are listed include:

Stomach pain
Nausea
Joint pain
Headache
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Depression
Difficulty sleeping
Unusual dreams
Itchy skin or rash
Jaundice (yellowing of the hands or feet)
Changes in body fat composition

Although Gilead Sciences initially noted these basic side effects, it has been alleged that the company willfully concealed more serious complications rather than notifying users, physicians, and government agencies.

Major kidney complications that have arisen in individuals taking Truvada include:

Declining kidney function
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Acute kidney injuries
Acute renal failure
Fanconi’s Syndrome
Tubular dysfunction
High creatinine levels
Other nephritic complications
Death by renal failure

Some symptoms may begin to reveal themselves as you begin to suffer loss of kidney function. These symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, decreased ability to urinate, rash, swelling of the feet and ankles, and irregular breathing.

In terms of bone-related damages, individuals who have taken Truvada have noted the following issues:

Increased risk of bone fractures/breaks
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis
Osteomalacia
Other orthopedic complications

These conditions can best be observed by muscle weakness and intense bone pain. Consult your doctor if any of the following symptoms begin to occur, as early detection is the best way to prevent serious injuries from occurring.

Gilead Faces Lawsuits

In late Spring 2018, 41 HIV infected individuals from 12 different states filed personal injury lawsuits against Gilead Sciences, Inc., for the injuries they had suffered after taking the manufacturer’s TDF-based drug.

The personal injury lawsuits are an attempt to hold the drug manufacturer accountable for their failure to inform the public of the possible serious dangers associated with TDF-based products. Furthermore, these lawsuits allege that Gilead withheld a safer alternative drug, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), in an attempt to keep Truvada sales up and the cost of the drug unreasonably highly.

Gilead Sciences has made billions of dollars annually in sales. While the negligent manufacturer has seen great success in sales, thousands of HIV infected persons have been left to suffer bone and kidney injuries.

Claims brought up against the company are typically product liability claims. In order to determine whether a claim is valid, they must meet the following standards:

The company failed to warn users of the potential risks associated with the product or drug.
There was a design or manufacturing defect which made the product or drug inherently dangerous.
The seller failed to fulfill the terms, claims, or representation concern the quality of their product.

A class-action lawsuit has also been filed against the company. This lawsuit also aims to hold Gilead accountable for failing to warn patients and concealing info about a safer alternative.

Who Is Most Affected by the Truvada Lawsuits?

Kansas has a population of nearly 3 million people. The predominant racial demographic of the state is White, accounting for 77% of the population. Racial minorities, unfortunately, suffer higher rates of HIV transmission.

For example, the Black/African population of Kansas sits at 7 percent, and yet 28 percent of new HIV diagnoses occur in this group.

Each year, approximately 131 individuals are diagnosed with HIV in Kansas. Non-Hispanic, white men who have sex with men, have been determined to be the largest group affected by HIV in Kansas.

But, as mentioned prior, young MSM of color, specifically Black, African, and Hispanic individuals, are disproportionately affected by HIV in this state.

As per AIDSVu.org:

There were 2,926 people living with HIV in Kansas in 2016
When broken down by race ethnicity:
- Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 51 percent of all cases.
- African-Americans accounted for 25 percent of all cases.
- Hispanics/Latinx accounted for 17.2 percent of all cases.
The rate of people living with HIV in Kansas stood at 122 per 100,000 population.
Males accounted for 80.8 percent of all people living with HIV.
Females accounted for 19.2 percent of all people living with HIV.
There were 118 new diagnoses in 2017.
45 HIV infected individuals lost their lives in 2016.
The rate of African American males living with HIV was 5 times higher in comparison to White males.
The rate of African American females living with an HIV diagnosis was nearly 16 times higher than that of White females.
7% of new diagnoses were amongst individuals 20 to 29 years old.

Factors which add to new yearly HIV diagnoses include a lack of resources to sexual education and sexual health care. Inaccessibility to antiretroviral therapy allows for the spread of HIV and the worsening of conditions in affected persons.

These demographics of persons affected by HIV are most likely to be recommended antiretroviral therapy, such as Truvada, and can succumb to the dangers of TDF.

Class Action vs. Personal Injury Lawsuits

Thus far, Truvada patients who have suffered bone and kidney complications have been represented in class-action and personal injury lawsuits.

Patients who take legal action under a class-action lawsuit become part of a collective group of individuals that have been harmed by an entity in a similar way. In this case, patients who have suffered bone and kidney complications after taking Gilead’s Truvada.

At the end of the lawsuit, each victim will be compensated according to their injuries. Those seeking a more individualized approach to their special circumstances should go about seeking compensation by filing a personal injury claim.

Since Gilead manufactured and sold a defective product, the company can be held liable through a products liability case. A personal injury attorney can help arrange an individual secure the proper evidence needed to hold such a powerful company accountable.

Kansas Truvada Attorneys Prepared To Fight For You

Pharmaceutical companies sometimes get away with malpractice because of the power and money they have to their name. It can be difficult for a sole patient to stand up against such a powerful entity; to seek justice for the harm brought to them by a negligent party.

However, pursuing compensation for your injuries suffered in taking Truvada is achievable. With the help of persistent and experienced product liability attorneys, damages that may be recovered include but are not limited to:

Medical expenses (past and future)
Loss of income (past and future)
Pain and suffering
Emotional anguish
Loss of consortium
Wrongful death

If you or a loved one have taken Truvada in the past and have suffered serious bone or kidney complications, know that there is help and compensation available for you to recover.

Call the committed Kansas Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at [phone-numbers] to receive your absolutely FREE, zero-obligation case review today.