Indiana Truvada Lawsuit Attorneys

Truvada is an antiretroviral drug manufactured by Gilead Sciences Inc. and was first approved for the treatment of HIV infections in 2004 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While the drug was initially a success, the truth has finally come to light.

Truvada has been linked to potentially life-threatening side effects that include serious kidney and bone-related damages. Lawsuits have begun to emerge against Gilead with plaintiffs claiming that the company was fully aware of these issues, while also purposely withholding a safer alternative that could have prevented them from arising.

Ranked 18th among the 50 states in the number of HIV diagnoses in 2015 according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, Indiana has thousands of residents who are not only affected by the condition but who could also face the dangerous side effects caused by using Truvada.

Our Indiana Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm are currently investigating claims by individuals who have suffered damages as a result of using Truvada. To learn more about your ability to file a claim against Gilead Sciences Inc., contact us right now at (314) 310-7924 for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

How Truvada Is Hurting Users

There are two active agents in Truvada which inhibit the activity of an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase. It is this particular enzyme that HIV uses to replicate itself in healthy cells. By stopping this activity, Truvada is able to help control the development of the condition in HIV-positive users, as well as limit the risk of contracting the virus.

These two components are:

Emtricitabine (FTC)
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF)

It is the TDF component which is linked to both bone and kidney damage.

Research and health organizations who have studied TDF have associated the agent with bone demineralization, which can ultimately lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures. Additionally, because Truvada requires heavy doses of TDF, the drug can cause substantial kidney damage. It is believed that this, in turn, also affects bone loss.

As the kidneys are no longer able to function at their full capacity, they cannot return vital bone-building nutrients back into the body, thus attributing to the issue of bone loss.

It should be noted that Truvada is not the only TDF-based medication that Gilead Sciences Inc. has developed and marketed. The following HIV drugs can also lead to bone and/or kidney-related damages:

Atripla
Complera
Stribild
Viread

The Indiana Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm are committed to helping right the wrongs done against the victims who used Truvada. To learn more about your ability to file a claim, contact us at (314) 310-7924.

Am I Eligible to File a Truvada Claim?

Individuals who are living with HIV and using Truvada, may be eligible to file a claim against Gilead Sciences. When you reach out to Onder Law Firm, our defective drug attorneys will be able to help you understand your legal options by providing a FREE, no-obligation consultation.

If you have suffered from any of the following kidney complications after a medical regimen of Truvada, then you – or a surviving family member – may be able to file a claim:

Declining Kidney Function
Chronic Kidney Disease
Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Renal Failure
Fanconi’s Syndrome
Tubular Dysfunction
Abnormal Glomerular Filtration Rate
Death by Renal Failure

Individuals suffering from bone-related health issues may also be eligible to file a claim. These types of damages can include:

Bone Weakening or Demineralization
Bone Fractures/Breaks
Dental Complications
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis

Individuals who were prescribed Truvada after it arrived on the market may be susceptible to debilitating injuries. Let our Indiana Truvada lawsuit attorneys help you hold Gilead Sciences accountable. Contact us today at (314) 310-7924 for a FREE case evaluation.

What Steps Should I Take Next If I Have Suffered a Truvada-Related Injury?

The most important step that you can take if you have used Truvada for some time is to seek out medical attention. A qualified physician will be able to determine exactly what types of injuries you may have suffered.

Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, you may need to undergo immediate hospitalization or emergency care. A diagnosis of a serious kidney or bone-related injury will be documented, which can then be used as proof to validate your claim.

Once you have attained the necessary medical care, you will then want to secure evidence of your use of Truvada. Records/documents can be secured through your primary physician, pharmacy/pharmacist, or the hospital where you were treated.

Please note that you should speak with your doctor before stopping the use of Truvada. Your physician may be able to provide you with alternative options or recommend a plan designed to help better protect your health.

Choosing to stop Truvada on your own can lead to serious health issues.

Additional forms of evidence you will want to secure include:

The medication and packaging can be used as physical evidence. Do NOT throw away any of these items.
A personal account of your injuries, the effects they have had on your life, and the amount of time you have taken Truvada can be written down in a journal or notebook.
If you are suffering from physical symptoms as a result of your Truvada use (i.e. fracture) consider taking photos of the injury and noting down the process of recovery.

Reach out to the Indiana Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm as soon as possible. Statute of limitations require that your lawsuit be filed within a certain time frame. Failure to do so in a timely manner will essentially negate your ability to seek out compensation for the damages you have suffered.

Populations Who Could Be Most Affected by Truvada in Indiana

While anyone can contract HIV, certain populations are more vulnerable to becoming affected by the condition. By correlation, it is these populations who may also face a greater risk of being negatively affected by the use of Truvada.

According to the 2017 HIV/AIDS Epidemiologic Profile for Indiana:

There were 12,635 individuals in the State of Indiana who were living with HIV/AIDS in 2017.
The prevalence rate of males living with HIV/AIDS between 2015-2017 was 308.4 cases per 100,000 population. The total number of males in the state with HIV/AIDS was 10,058, which accounted for 80 percent of all cases in 2017.
The prevalence rate for females living with HIV/AIDS between 2015-2017 stood at 76.7 cases per 100,000 population. The total number of females living in Indiana with HIV/AIDS was 2,577 in 2017. Females accounted for 20 percent of all cases.
The age group with the highest rate of prevalence was 50 to 59-year-olds. The prevalence rate stood at 417.5 cases per 100,000 population in 2017. This was followed by 40 to 49-year-olds and then 30 to 39-year-olds.

In terms of race/ethnicity:

Whites accounted for 6,121 persons (48.4%) living with HIV/AIDS in Indiana in 2017.
In that same year, African Americans accounted for 4,795 cases (38%), while Hispanics accounted for 1,129 cases (8.9%).
While Whites living with HIV/AIDS was the largest population, their rate of prevalence was much lower than those of minority groups. Whites saw a prevalence rate of 107.7 cases per 100,000 population. On the other hand, African Americans had the highest prevalence rate at 753.2 cases per 100,000 people. Hispanics had a prevalence rate of 255.5 cases per 100,000 people. It should be noted that the rates of infection continue to rise for minorities while the rates of prevalence for the White demographic fall.

Subgroups who were most affected include:

Men who have sex with men (MSM) had the highest rate for males living with HIV/AIDS. This group accounted for 46.5 percent of cases in men and had the highest prevalence rate at 180.2 cases per 100,000 population.
The second highest male population affected were heterosexual males with a rate of 37.8 per 100,000 people. This group accounted for 19.8 percent of all cases in men.
African American men had the highest rate of men living with HIV/AIDS. Their prevalence rate stood at 1,134.2 cases per 100,000 population.

Again, it is worth noting these populations as they are much more likely to be prescribed Truvada or be involved in a serodiscordant relationship with a partner taking Truvada.

Onder Law Firm Is Here for You When You Need Us Most

If you have suffered from any of the health issues mentioned above after consistently using Truvada, you may qualify to recover compensation for damages such as but 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

We will make sure you recover the justice and compensation that you are due. Contact Onder Law Firm right now at (314) 310-7924 for a FREE consultation. There is hope.