Mississippi Truvada Lawyers

Gilead Sciences, Inc., is a biotechnology pharmaceutical company founded in 1987. The company has developed a number of medications to treat a variety of conditions including hepatitis B and C, influenza, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

One of the company’s most highly recognized and profitable medications has been the HIV drug, Truvada. This prescription medication is used to treat HIV infection, and when used in combination with other drugs, can help to slow the progress of the disease and prolong the life of users.

Or so it has been assumed.

In 2018, 41 patients across 12 states filed personal injury lawsuits against Gilead Sciences, Inc., alleging that the drug maker failed to notify them of defects within Truvada, failed to disclose the potential of a safer option, and misrepresented the medications’ safety. Users of the drug are also claiming that the drug caused them to develop serious bone and kidney health complications.

If you live in Mississippi, have used Truvada for a prolonged period of time to treat your condition, and have suffered bone or kidney damages, do NOT wait to contact the Mississippi Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm for a FREE consultation.

The Basics of Truvada

Truvada was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for HIV infection in August 2004. The product is generally used in combination with other HIV medications to stop the activity of an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase. The drug is able to do this through two components: emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

These two components are known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).

While Truvada has been somewhat of a miracle drug for individuals living with HIV, the truth of its potential toxicity has begun to emerge.

The TDF component in Truvada has been linked to declines in bone mineral density in users as well as kidney damage. This is troublesome as people living with HIV already face an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. When coupled with additional risk factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, race/ethnicity, and family history, users of Truvada may have more to worry about than just dealing with HIV.

It is worth noting that while Truvada is the most prominent HIV drug, holding a 41 percent market share, there are several other drugs – including a few produced by Gilead Sciences – which also contain TDF.

Users of the following drugs should be on alert for any changes in their health:

Atripla (33% market share)
Stribild (9% market share)
Complera (9% market share)
Viread (8% market share)

These other antiretroviral drugs attack HIV differently and users may follow a unique regimen depending on which one they are using.

The Mississippi Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm are determined to give a voice to your pain. You do NOT have to suffer in silence. If you have suffered bone-related or kidney-related damages as a result of taking Truvada or another HIV antiretroviral drug, contact us right now at (314) 310-7924 for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

Mississippi HIV Rates

Because Truvada is used to help HIV-1 positive individuals treat their condition, better understanding which populations are most affected by HIV can help us to pinpoint who exactly may also be affected with the issues surrounding Truvada.

Mississippi has, unfortunately, experienced some of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in the country. The infection rate within the Mississippi Delta averaged 17.8 new cases per 100,000 compared to a national average of 11.2 cases per 100,000 people.

As per AIDSVu.org:

There were 9,458 people living with HIV in 2016 in Mississippi.
Of these cases:
- 9 percent were of African-American ethnicity/race.
- 1 percent were of White ethnicity/race.
- 2 percent were of Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity/race.
In terms of gender:
- 3 percent of all people living with HIV were male.
- 7 percent of all people living with HIV were female.
Mississippi had a rate of 383 people living with HIV per 100,000 population in 2016.
There were 482 new HIV diagnoses in 2017.
New diagnoses rate in 2017 was 17 per 100,000 population.
141 individuals lost their lives to HIV in 2016 in Mississippi.
In terms of transmission categories:
- 73 percent of infections in men occurred from male-to-male sexual contact (MSM), followed by 13.3 percent of infections occurring through heterosexual contact.
- For women, 82.8 percent of infections occurred through heterosexual contact.

A study published by in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance in 2018 noted that “there were HIV hotspots for the entire population, MSM, and African American MSM identified in the Mississippi Delta region, Southern Mississippi, and in greater Jackson, including surrounding rural counties.”

The City of Jackson had the fourth-highest rate of HIV infection in the nation while also being 1 of 5 southern metropolitan areas with the highest rate of HIV infections, high teen HIV infection rates, and high HIV death rates for young women and adults.

Counties most affected by HIV in Mississippi include:

Hinds County had a rate of 1,036 people were living with HIV per 100,000 population in 2016.
Coahoma County saw 904 people living with HIV per 100,000 population in 2016.
Sunflower County had 881 people living with HIV per 100,000 population in 2016.
Greene County had 810 people living with HIV per 100,000 population in 2016.

If you have suffered from bone or kidney damages and have taken Truvada or any of the other HIV medications previously mentioned, contact your doctor immediately. Then contact the dependable Mississippi Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924. We can help you to hold Truvada accountable for their negligence.

The Dangerous Side Effects of Truvada Use

The TDF component in Truvada has been linked to the development of serious bone and kidney health complications.

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

Chronic Kidney Disease or Declining Kidney Function
Acute Kidney Injury or Acute Renal Failure
Fanconi’s Syndrome
Tubular Dysfunction
Low Kidney Function
High Creatinine Levels
Abnormal Protein Levels Within the Urine
Abnormal Glomerular Filtration Rate
Death by Renal Failure

With TDF linked to bone demineralization, individuals who have suffered the following may be eligible to file a claim against Gilead:

Bone Weakening or Demineralization
Bone Fractures
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis

If this resonates with you and/or a loved oned, seek out medical attention immediately as these conditions can be life-threatening. Then, seek out the support and resources of the knowledgeable defective drug lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

If you or a loved one used Truvada to manage your HIV but have since suffered from bone and/or kidney-related damages, you may be eligible to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered.

While there is no particular set amount of compensation that an individual should expect for their claim, the experienced Mississippi Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm can help you develop a better understanding of how much compensation you will be able to recover.

Compensation for damages may include but is not limited to:

Medical Bills (past, present, and future)
Pain and Suffering
Lost Wages (past, present, and future)
Loss of Earning Capacity
Loss of Quality of Life
Loss of Consortium
Emotional Damages
Wrongful Death Damages

Reach out to the Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm today by calling (314) 310-7924 for your FREE legal consultation.

Past Lawsuits Filed Against Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Gilead Sciences has begun to face multiple lawsuits on various fronts and not just from individuals who have suffered bone or kidney injuries.

Gilead Accused of Violating Antitrust Laws

A federal class-action lawsuit has been filed against Gilead Sciences by a number of advocates alleging that the company violated antitrust laws and developed a monopoly. But Gilead Sciences isn’t the only company involved in the lawsuit. The drug makers Bristol-Meyers and Johnson & Johnson are also believed to have conspired to artificially keep the prices of the HIV drugs high. It’s also being argued that the three companies used patent-protected components and purposely refused to use cost-effective alternative ingredients.

A Whistle-Blower Claims Gilead Unlawfully Paid Healthcare Providers

A whistle-blower lawsuit was filed against Gilead Sciences in 2015. The lawsuit alleged that the company unlawfully paid the salaries of health care personnel, as well as provided money to healthcare providers to pay for patient travel, medical software, laboratory upgrades, and other resources.

The intent was for healthcare providers to help boost the sales of the company’s HIV and hepatitis drugs.

The Atripla Class-Action Lawsuits

Back in May 2018, personal injury actions were filed by two Californians. The individuals were using another one of Gilead’s TDF-based HIV medications, Atripla, when they began to suffer damage to their kidneys and bones. The lawsuits allege that the company misrepresented the efficacy of this product and knowingly sold it despite being aware of its toxicity.

Suffice to say that Gilead Sciences has a history of taking advantage of consumers and those who need protection most.

For a FREE legal consultation, contact the compassionate Mississippi Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm by calling (314) 310-7924.