Michigan Truvada Lawsuits

Gilead Sciences Inc. is a prime example of a company working to earn revenue in any way possible. The company is now facing allegations that it withheld a safer version of their HIV drug and instead sold a version with a harmful component that has led to severe bone and kidney-related injuries in users.

This is a prime example of companies putting profits over people.

But these users who have been poorly misused are fighting back and filing claims against Gilead in an effort to secure the compensation and justice needed to fix the damages they have suffered.

If your quality of life has dramatically worsened as a result of using Truvada, know that there is hope. The Michigan Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm are ready to fight and help you get your voice heard.

Contact our experienced and committed Michigan Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 right now to set up your FREE legal consultation.

Gilead’s Most Recent Lawsuits

Multiple times throughout Gilead’s lifespan, the company has been sued for shady business practices including funneling billions out of healthcare programs, paying off healthcare providers and physicians to write prescriptions for their HIV and hepatitis medications, and acquiring active ingredients for their drugs from unapproved sources in China.

Not to be outdone by its legal past, Gilead has recently been taken to civil court by two Californian men alleging that the company withheld a safer alternative to their Truvada medication. This drug is meant to help prevent the growth and spread of HIV but instead contains a harmful component known as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

It is this component within the drug that is tied to the injuries and damages users have suffered.

The company made billions by holding the patent on TDF-based medications and concealing information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a safer component known as tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF). The plan was to sell TDF medications until the patent ran out in 2015, then sell TAF medicines as a “new and improved” formula, squeezing out as much revenue as they could regardless of how their products harmed consumers.

To make matters worse, Gilead knew about the negative side effects that TDF-based medications like Truvada caused – and they still sold them anyway.

That is until these two gentlemen caught wind of the company’s treachery. The two would then go on to file two separate personal injury lawsuits against Gilead, as well as a separate class-action lawsuit to include others who had been affected by the defective medication.

This important civil lawsuit does more than just seek out compensation for those that developed painful side effects and symptoms from their Truvada use. It sends a message to pharmaceutical companies that this type of practice is highly frowned upon and will be met with serious penalties.

That’s why the Michigan Truvada lawsuit lawyers of Onder Law Firm want to help you get your voice heard and the compensation that is owed to you.

Contact the Michigan Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 to set up your FREE legal consultation today.

Overview of Michigan HIV Statistics

In the state of Michigan, as of 2016, there were 15,422 people that were living with HIV. This was equal to a rate of 163 people living with the virus out of every 100,000 residents.

Of the 15,422:

• 8 percent were African-American
• 34 percent were Hispanic/Latinx
• 9 percent were White
• 7 identified as a male
• 3 percent identified as female

Throughout the entire state, the counties that were most affected in 2016 include:

• Wayne County – 457 people were living with HIV per 100,000.
• Oakland County – 184 people had been living with HIV per 100,000.
• Berrien County – 174 individuals had lived with HIV per 100,000.

The virus would ultimately claim 244 lives that year, equivalent to a rate of three deaths of individuals living with HIV per 100,000.

It should be noted that Detroit has a rate 4 times the state average and makes up a third of the state’s HIV cases. In 2018, the rate was 719 people per 100,000 Detroit residents who were living with HIV, while the state average was 163 people per 100,000 residents.

Additionally:

• Almost two-thirds of those living with HIV in Michigan resided in the counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne.
• Of the individuals with HIV, 51 percent are between 40 to 59 years old.

In 2017, around 777 new cases of HIV were diagnosed, which was a rate of 9 new HIV diagnoses out of every 100,000 people. The most common forms of transmission in men were:

• Male-to-Male Sexual Contact (88.7 percent)
• Male-to-Male Sexual Contact and Injection Use (3.6 percent)
• Heterosexual Contact (5 percent)
• Injection Drug Use (2.5 percent)
• Other (0.2 percent)

And for women, many contracted the virus through:

• Heterosexual Contact (78 percent)
• Injection Drug Use (22 percent)

The Debilitating Side Effects of Truvada

The TDF in Truvada was designed to target a hormone called reverse transcriptase. This hormone’s activity promotes the growth of HIV-infected cells, and TDF aims to reduce that activity. While it may seem like Truvada is a wonder drug for those living with HIV, it comes at a most grievous cost.

In order to cease replication and development of HIV in the body, an excessive amount of TDF is required. This excess drains bones of calcium and other minerals that make them strong, a process known as bone demineralization. When bone density is compromised, your body becomes susceptible to:

• Discomfort in Extremities
• Decreased Bone Mineral Density
• Bone Deterioration or Osteoporosis
• Bone Loss or Osteopenia
• Dental Complications (e.g. Tooth Decay and Loss)
• Bone Fractures

Sadly, around 6,000 Truvada users ended up suffering from broken bones while using Truvada. While the drug did a lot of damage to users’ bones, it also wreaked havoc on kidneys. The excess TDF pools in the kidneys, making it difficult for the organ to flush the substance out. This can cause:

• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Declining Kidney Function/Decreased Urination
• Acute Kidney Injury
• Acute Renal Failure
• Fanconi Syndrome
• Kidney Failure

For those that already suffer from preexisting kidney and bone conditions, using Truvada can worsen these conditions. Aside from the aforementioned conditions, TDF can also cause lactic acidosis, a condition where the pH levels in the body are elevated and can cause muscle aches, burning sensations, stomach cramps, nausea, rapid breathing, and even death.

If you suffer from any of these negative side effects because of your Truvada use, the Michigan Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm have the legal experience and resources you need to earn the compensation that is rightfully owed to you. Contact us at (314) 310-7924 to schedule your FREE legal consultation today.

Steps to Take if You Have Suffered a Truvada-Related Injury

Whether you have been taking Truvada for years or are a relatively new user, it is in your best interest to seek out medical attention. Depending on your particular situation, doctors may be able to provide the care needed to inhibit major issues from developing.

In emergency situations, please seek out medical care immediately.

A visit to the doctor will help to prevent further damage and will also act as a means of documenting the injuries you have suffered, which will be vital should you decide to file a claim against Gilead. Please make sure to secure all medical files, bills, prescriptions, and other documents.

Before you stop using Truvada, you should speak with your primary healthcare provider. Stopping medication without a doctor’s approval can lead to other issues. Your doctor will let you know if you can safely stop taking the drug.

Please remember to NOT throw away the medication. The actual medication and packaging can be used as physical evidence in your product liability claim.

Next, you will need to file a claim with the committed and determined Michigan Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm as soon as possible. Statute of limitations requires that your lawsuit be filed within a certain time frame in order for you to qualify for damages.

We are ready to give a voice to your pain. Contact Onder Law Firm right now at (314) 310-7924 for a FREE consultation.