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Minneapolis Truvada Lawsuit Attorneys

Truvada is the brand name for an antiviral drug used to treat HIV. When used in combination with other drugs, Truvada can help to impede the growth of the virus in the individual. Although it is NOT a cure for HIV, this treatment options is meant to assist individuals to better cope with symptoms and lead longer, healthier lives.

Made from a combination of the components emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), Truvada has become one of the most widely recognized HIV drugs trusted by physicians and patients across the United States.

First receiving approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004, Truvada creator and manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, Inc., has gone on to make billions of dollars in profit off of the medication. But, unfortunately, Truvada is not all that it appears to be – and Gilead Sciences has been well aware of the issues with their product and yet has continued to sell it indiscriminately.

In recent years, lawsuits have begun to spring up against Gilead Sciences, asserting that Truvada has caused some truly dangerous – and potentially life-threatening – side effects after prolonged use.

Of major concern to us here at Onder Law Firm are the bone and kidney damage some users of Truvada have faced. If you or a loved one has taken Truvada and suffered bone deterioration or kidney damage, know that you may be able to pursue compensation.

Contact the Minneapolis Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 for your absolutely FREE legal consultation.

What Makes Truvada Dangerous?

The two HIV components found in Truvada, FTC and TDF, are known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). NTRIs block the HIV enzyme called reverse transcriptase, thus reducing the number of HIV infected cells in the body and essentially slowing down the spread of the infection.

The component, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), has been associated with dangerous side effects and is known to be toxic when consumed in high quantities. Unfortunately, the amount of TDF in Truvada must be high in order to be effective in the prevention of HIV.

Patients who take TDF-based medications may experience severe side effects and even begin to develop life-threatening health conditions.

As a result, users of Truvada have begun to file lawsuits against Gilead Sciences for the injuries they have suffered. These lawsuits allege that the company lied about the safety of their TDF-based product, concealed information about the severity of its dangers, and even keep secret a safer alternative that could have prevented many of these injuries.

Records show that the company was developing an alternative variation of TDF known as tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) during the same period in which they were developing Truvada. The company was aware of the improved safety and effectiveness of this alternative but withheld the product from the public in an effort to grow its market dominance and increase sales.

The company did not market its TAF-based product until its patent on the TDF version ran its course.

Due to this, many patients seeking to treat their HIV were left to suffer harmful effects, and the company should be held responsible for their negligence.

Bone-Related Injuries Caused by Truvada

One of the major causes of concern for Truvada users is bone demineralization. Studies have linked the use of Truvada with an increased rate of bone demineralization (resorption). Unfortunately, individuals who have contracted HIV already face a higher rate of bone loss, and the added bone loss caused by using the medication can make users susceptible to bone-related injuries and pain, including:

  • Discomfort in extremities
  • Decreased bone mineral density
  • Osteoporosis
  • Bone loss or osteopenia
  • Bone fractures
  • Breaks

Generally, when osteoporosis begins to affect individuals, they may begin to suffer fractures or breaks in certain areas around the body, including the:

  • Hips
  • Wrists
  • Forearms
  • Ribs
  • Spinal vertebrae

Unfortunately, users often do not realize they have begun to deal with bone loss until they suffer a fracture. Because of this reason, it is important to you speak with your doctor immediately to undergo testing to determine whether or not you have been affected by bone mineral density loss. Testing may include:

  • X-rays
  • Body CT scans
  • Spinal CT scans
  • Bone density scans

It should also be noted that Gilead Sciences produced a number of additional products that are related to Truvada and which can cause injuries as well, including:

  • Viread
  • Stribild
  • Atripla
  • Complera

Contact the Minneapolis Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 to schedule your FREE consultation right now.

About the Kidney Injuries Caused by Using Truvada

Similarly to bone loss, individuals with HIV also face an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease or suffering from kidney failure. Research has revealed that individuals faced a 33 percent yearly increase when exposed to TDF.

It is also believed that when users of Truvada begin to suffer from kidney disease, the organs cannot properly function and deliver bone-building materials back into the bloodstream. Thus, the damage done to kidneys through Truvada use are believed to also play a role in bone demineralization.

Kidney damage can be truly devastating to a Truvada user’s life. If the condition is not managed, then you may begin to suffer from a number of serious conditions including:

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

When kidney damage becomes significant, this can lead to other health issues including an increased risk of suffering from a stroke or heart attack. In its final stages, kidney failure can only be treated through dialysis or a kidney transplant.

HIV Diagnoses in Minneapolis

There are certain groups who face a higher rate of HIV diagnoses in the city of Minneapolis and its surrounding area. As a result, these individuals may also have a higher likelihood of taking Truvada.

As per the Minnesota Department of Health 2018 HIV Incidence Report:

  • In 2018, there were 75 HIV diagnoses in the City of Minneapolis.
  • In 2017, there were 33 HIV diagnoses in the City of St. Paul.
  • In the surrounding metro area, there were 113 HIV diagnoses in 2018.
  • Historically, about 80 percent of all new HIV infections occurred in the Minneapolis/St. Paul seven-county metro area.
  • In 2018, 26 percent of new HIV diagnoses occurred in Minneapolis, 11 percent in St. Paul, and 40 percent in the suburban area.
  • In 2018, males made up 76 percent of newly reported HIV diagnoses while females accounted for 24 percent.
  • Whites accounted for 40 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the state of Minnesota in 2018.
  • Non-Hispanic African-Americans and Black African-born Minnesotans accounted for 38 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2018 in the State of Minnesota.
  • Hispanics accounted for 13 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2018 throughout the state.
  • Men who have sex with men (MSM) had the highest rate of HIV diagnoses in the state in 2018 with an estimated rate of 164.3 per 100,000 population.

Suing a Drug Company for Injuries Caused by a Defective Product

Drug manufacturers have a duty to provide quality products, as well as information that is as accurate and transparent as possible in order to ensure the safety of consumers. Each year, the number of individuals who end up in the hospital due to dangerous drug side effects exceeds 1.5 million.

While there is a common understanding that there are usually some side effects associated with prescription drugs, no one expects serious injury or death. Victims of defective drugs have the right to pursue legal action to recuperate financial compensation. An individual can go about doing this by contacting an experienced defective drug lawsuit attorney.

You may be eligible to pursue a defective drug lawsuit if the company’s negligence caused you harm. One of the following three main criteria should be established to qualify:

  1. Manufacturing Defects – These are problems that can occur in the phase of production, where some unsafe ingredient or substance taints the formulation.
  2. Design Defects – An entire batch of products was designed with dangerous side effects.
  3. Failure to Warn – Also known as marketing defects, this is when the drug manufacturer omits vital information in regards to the drug description, side effects, or instructions on how to properly use the product.

If you have suffered injuries as a result of using Truvada, contact the Minneapolis Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm today at (314) 310-7924 to learn more about your legal options.

File Your Truvada Lawsuit with the Trustworthy Attorneys of Onder Law Firm

Have you or a loved one been harmed by the defective drug Truvada? If your case qualifies, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:

  • Medical expenses related to your injuries (past and future)
  • Loss of wages
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality of life

Let the skilled Minneapolis Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm help you hold Gilead Sciences accountable for the pain and suffering they have caused you. Your voice deserves to be heard!

When you are ready to pursue the compensation and justice you deserve, contact the Minneapolis Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 for your FREE legal consultation.

Our team is ready to help you with your Truvada case Call (314) 310-7924

This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. Results include Co-lead counsel on Yaz MDL & co-liaison leadership role in Pradaxa MDL.

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