Modern antiviral HIV medications have been lifesaving for millions of people, but there’s a lot you should know about the drugs on the market and their relative risks. One drug, Truvada, is currently the subject of pending class-action litigation due to claims that those who take the drug are at higher risk of developing kidney and bone injuries in the future. It’s important to be able to talk to your doctor about what drugs are best for you and what side effects they can have. If you want to learn more, read on to find out everything you need to know about the class-action suit against Truvada and HIV medication.
What is Truvada, and why is there a class-action lawsuit?
Truvada is an antiviral medication that is used to treat HIV infections, as well as reducing the risk of transmission in those who have not contracted the virus. Truvada contains two different HIV medications: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of Truvada, has been criticized in the past for delaying other types of HIV drugs in order to increase their profits from the sale of TDF drugs. The FDA has yet to recall the medication.
The Truvada class action claims that individuals who take Truvada were unknowingly put at increased risk for developing future injuries like kidney and bone injuries. If you or someone you know was prescribed Truvada and subsequently received a diagnosis of an injury that could be related to Truvada, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the damages associated with your injury. The amount of compensation will depend on factors like injury severity, whether or not you are unable to work, and expected future expenses.
You may be concerned about the cost of seeking legal representation, but you shouldn’t be. Personal injury attorneys typically work on what is known as a contingency fee basis. Under this arrangement, your lawyer takes their payment as a percentage of your final settlement. That means you won’t be responsible for the out-of-pocket cost of pursuing your legal claim until after your case has been resolved.
Why is HIV prevention and treatment so important?
For those who aren’t familiar, HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus. It attacks the body’s immune system and, if left untreated, will eventually lead to AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. There is no effective cure for HIV at this point, which is why prevention and elimination of transmission are so essential. Many people experience flu-like symptoms two to four weeks post-infection, including fever, chills, rash, muscle aches, sore throat, and fatigue. If you think you may have been exposed to the virus, get tested as soon as you can.
One of the reasons that the dangers associated with Truvada are so tragic is because they have caused harm to people who were trying to do the right thing, which is to treat any potential HIV infection and reduce transmission as much as possible. You should be proactive about testing regularly for HIV, even if you don’t believe you’re in a high-risk group. Despite the stereotype that gay and bisexual men are at the most risk for contracting HIV, a recent study from the United Kingdom actually showed that heterosexual people are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV now.
HIV can be a devastating disease when left untreated, and the life expectancy for patients who develop AIDS is short. Since there’s no cure, it’s necessary that you take steps to protect yourself from catching the disease or spreading it if you do have an HIV infection. However, there is evidence that suggests Truvada may cause serious side effects in some patients, which is why there is a pending class-action lawsuit against the manufacturer, Gilead Sciences. If you were prescribed Truvada and subsequently experienced bone, kidney, or other potentially related injuries, you should get in touch with a qualified Truvada lawyer today.
