If you are facing debilitating side effects from the HIV drug Truvada, such as renal impairment, fractures, bone density loss, or kidney failure, a skilled Truvada lawyer could help you seek the justice that you deserve. Truvada was designed to control the spread of HIV but has now been associated with the development of serious bone and kidney complications. A mass torts attorney who has experience handling Truvada lawsuits could fight to amplify your voice and help you obtain the fair compensation.
What Is Truvada?
Truvada contains two primary components to inhibit HIV-infected cells from replicating: Emtricitabine (FTC) and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF). These components help protect individuals who have a high risk of becoming infected with HIV, and along with other specific medications, could help control HIV development in patients who already have it. The medications lower the activity of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is used by HIV-infected cells to replicate.
By inhibiting this process, FTC and TDF help prevent the multiplication of HIV, and in certain case, can prevent growth completely. However, while Truvada might look like a miracle drug, TDF has recently been linked to multiple bone and kidney complications, including kidney failure, renal impairment, bone density loss, and bone fractures. Gilead Sciences Inc. first created medicine containing TDF in the early 2000s, along with another drug known as tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF). TAF has the same efficacy has TDF-based drugs but is useful in smaller, safer dosages.
However, Gilead released medications with TDF components such as Truvada first, waiting until the patent expired in 2015 to start selling TAF-based medications. Numerous Truvada lawsuits filed by attorneys across the nation have alleged that Gilead knowingly continued to market a drug with known, severe side effects to maximize their profits, then tried to sell an improved version of the product once the patent expired in 2015. As a result, many consumers taking TDF-based products like Truvada developed serious kidney and bone problems.
Complications and Side Effects Caused by Truvada
Because TDF-based drugs like Truvada require significant doses to be effective, the excess is typically processed through the kidneys. This process can lead to complications and side effects including the following:
- Declining kidney function and decreased urination
- Acute renal failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Kidney failure
- Fanconi Syndrome
- Osteoporosis or bone deterioration
- Bone fractures
- Dental complications such as tooth decay and tooth loss
Establishing Liability in a Truvada Lawsuit
As is the case in any product liability claim, a Truvada attorney must be able to accurately pinpoint whether the drug manufacturer, marketer, or distributor was liable for the plaintiff’s injury. There are three different types of liability claims a lawyer would consider: strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranty.
Strict Liability
A strict liability claim focuses on the actual product and whether it contained defects the manufacturer failed to warn consumers about. An experienced attorney could work to prove that the defect existed in the manufacturing, design, or marketing processes that rendered the product unreasonably dangerous and caused harm to the user.
Negligence
To establish a negligence claim, the maker must have failed to use reasonable care in the manufacturing, design, or marketing of the product, and as a result, caused the user injury.
Breach of Warranty
A successful breach of warranty liability claim must prove that the product broke its manufacturer warranty thereby injuring the user. Upon determining liability, the lawyer handling the plaintiff’s Truvada case could help them calculate the compensation they could qualify for, including:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Lost income (past, present, and future)
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses
How a Truvada Attorney Could Help
A committed Truvada lawyer could endeavor to help you recover the compensation required to get your life back on track. An attorney could fully investigate your claim, including identifying any previous recalls, lawsuits, and claims. Set up a consultation today to see if you have a case.
