Salt Lake City Truvada Lawyers

Individuals who contract the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can become severely ill as it weakens their immune system’s capacity to fight off infections. HIV occurs in stages and can worsen in severity with time if not properly treated.

Stage 3 HIV is called the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this final stage of HIV, it is nearly impossible for the body to fight off opportunistic infections. Life expectancy after an AIDS diagnosis is reduced to three years if no treatment is implemented.

The development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has helped to suppress the viral load of HIV in infected persons. Although a cure for HIV does not yet exist, ART assists patients in leading longer and healthier lives. It can also reduce the risk of transmitting the infection.

Physicians highly recommend that individuals begin ART at the onset of diagnosis. ART includes the use of antiretroviral drugs in combination to treat HIV. Some of these HIV drugs are known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), which help prevent transcriptase, or the replication process of HIV infected cells.

Truvada is a combination drug of the NRTIs emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). The drug was first approved as a prescription treatment for HIV by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004.

Truvada was developed by Gilead Sciences. The company has profited largely from its various well-known and trusted antiretroviral drugs such as Truvada. These medications have gained the trust of physicians and patients across America for their effectiveness in suppressing viral load of HIV in patients to an acceptable amount.

Unfortunately, a key ingredient in many of Gilead’s antiretrovirals has been determined to be dangerous and can result in adverse health effects.

If you or someone you love has taken Truvada and since suffered bone or kidney injuries, call the Salt Lake City Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 NOW for a FREE case review.

The Dangers of Truvada

As with all medications, it was anticipated that Gilead’s antiretroviral drugs would come with some side effects. Gilead Sciences advises the public about which pre-existing conditions would make the treatment unsafe to use. Additionally, the company provided information about some common side effects of Truvada, which include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness
• Back pain
• Unusual dreams
• Skin rash
• Changes in body fat composition

The issue at hand is that Truvada is a combination drug that contains notable amounts of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Clinical research and personal cases have revealed that TDF can increase the chances of various bone and kidney injuries.

Lawsuits against Gilead Sciences argue that the company was fully aware of the potential for health risks associated with TDF and yet failed to notify consumers. Plaintiffs are claiming that they unknowingly took the product without being fully informed of the adverse conditions the TDF in Truvada could cause.

The following adverse conditions have been linked to Truvada use:

• Bone Density Loss
  • Osteopenia, or mild decreased bone density
  • Osteoporosis, or severe decreased bone density
  • Osteomalacia, or softened bones
  • Bone fractures
  • Broken bones

• Kidney Injury
  • Decreased kidney function
  • Kidney damage
  • Renal failure

Gilead Sciences failed to make the public aware that the drug is potentially dangerous. Therefore, physicians have widely prescribed Truvada to patients in efforts to suppress the viral load of HIV in their system.

Thousands of HIV patients are now at risk for conditions that may become fatal if not assessed and treated in time. If you have a history of using TDF-based HIV treatments, beware of symptoms of bone and kidney injuries, as early detection is the best way to prevent serious injury.

Who Is Affected by Truvada?

Individuals who are most exposed to the dangers of Truvada and other TDF drugs are those who are trying to suppress HIV. It is unfortunate that those trying to improve their health must succumb to the negligence of a drug manufacturer.

Across the United States, 1.1 million people are infected with HIV, yet 15 percent are unaware they have it. The latest data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that in 2017, there were 38,739 new HIV diagnoses across the country. African American men who have sex with other men (MSM) were most impacted, accounting for 9,807 of those cases.

That same year, there were 117 new HIV diagnoses in the State of Utah.

According to the Utah Department of Health 2017 Annual HIV Surveillance Report:

• The four counties which make up the Wasatch Front include Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah.
• Salt Lake County (with county seat Salt Lake City) has the largest number of HIV infections each year.
• In 2017, 88% of new HIV diagnoses were reported along the Wasatch Front.
• 71% of new HV diagnoses were reported in Salt Lake County.
• The rate of persons living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) in Salt Lake County is 188.8 individuals per 100,000 individuals.
• Salt Lake County had an 11.4% increase in the rate of PLWDH from 2012 to 2016.

Those impacted by HIV in Salt Lake City may have been or may be recommended to begin antiretroviral therapy. Patients should talk about the possible side effects of each type of treatment with their doctor and disclose prior conditions before starting antiretroviral therapy.

If you live in the Salt Lake City or the surrounding metro area, have taken Truvada to manage your condition, and have begun to suffer from bone or kidney-related health issues, do not hesitate to contact the Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm. We are ready to hear your story and defend your rights.

Past Lawsuits Against Gilead Sciences

Truvada gained approval as an HIV treatment in 2004. Since then, several scientific studies have exposed a link between TDF and kidney and bone complications.

Furthermore, the FDA requires that drug manufacturers conduct annual clinical studies to affirm the efficiency and safety of their products. Any drug that is determined to be unsafe should be recalled or adjusted to ensure no unreasonable danger to consumers.

However, even despite the research revealing the dangers of TDF, Gilead did not issue any remedy or recall on their TDF-based drugs, including Truvada. Instead, the company continued to profit billions in its sales of the products.

Also, Gilead is said to have had shelved an early alternative to TDF called tenofovir alanefedamine (TAF). This drug is effective in inhibiting the replication of HIV, but in much smaller doses than the nephrotoxic TDF.

Two types of lawsuits have recently emerged against Gilead. A pair of California residents brought about personal injury lawsuits for their bone and kidney injuries in the Spring of 2018. These lawsuits claim that Gilead administered a dangerous drug and failed to provide warning.

Another pair of individuals initiated a class action lawsuit around the same time in California. This lawsuit aimed to collectively represent all Truvada patients in California who had been exposed to the dangers of the drug as Gilead failed to provide a safer alternative for the sake of preserving sales.

How to File a Defective Product Lawsuit

It has been determined that two types of legal action have been taken against the negligent drug company: personal injury and class action lawsuits. If you or someone you love has faced bone or kidney-related injuries after using TDF-based drugs, consider filing a personal injury lawsuit for individualized attention to your unique case.

Personal injury lawsuits for defective drugs fall under product liability. To bring about a product liability case, one of the following elements must be present:

1. Defect in design: The manufacturer is responsible if the product was designed in a way that is unreasonably unsafe to consumers.
2. Manufacturing defect: The manufacturer is responsible if an error was made in the creation of the item that makes it unsafe to use.
3. Failure to warn (marketing defect): A manufacturer is responsible for any failure to issue directions, advisories, or warnings which are essential to the safe use of the product.

It can be intimidating to face a pharmaceutical giant alone. However, this injustice must be remedied by pursuing your damages and justice from Gilead Sciences. With the help of our experienced Salt Lake City Truvada lawsuit attorneys, you can pursue compensation for your injuries.

Remember to take timely action, as the statute of limitations on defective products in the state of Utah is two (2) years.

Seeking Justice for Victims of Truvada

A dangerous drug can severely impact an individual and their loved ones. From the physical pain to financial costs in recovery, it is crucial to seek justice and financial compensation from the entity that caused you harm.

With the help of our knowledgeable and hardworking Truvada lawsuit attorneys, victims of TDF-based pharmaceuticals can seek to recover the following damages for but not limited to:

• Medical costs
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of income
• Lost capacity to work
• Loss of consortium
• Wrongful death

Have you or a loved one suffered bone or kidney complications after taking Gilead HIV treatments? Know that Salt Lake City Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm are ready to offer a FREE consultation and help you in your recovery. Contact us as soon as possible at (314) 310-7924.