Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured after taking Stribild, you should contact our law firm immediately for legal advice. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.
What is Stribild?
Stribild treats human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the infection that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It doesn't cure HIV or AIDS, but instead may slow the disease's progress and prolong life. Stribild is made by Gilead Sciences, and was approved by the FDA in October 2012.
What’s the Problem?
Lawsuits allege that tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, one of the active ingredients in Stribild, contributes to kidney problems and bone demineralization due to compromised bone density, which has caused bone fractures and other serious side effects in some patients.
Stribild Side Effects
- Increased risk of bone demineralization
- Decreased bone mineral density
- Bone fractures
- Osteopenia
- Osteoporosis
- Reduced kidney function
- Kidney injuries
- Kidney damage
- Kidney toxicity
- Kidney disease (CKD)
- Kidney failure (renal failure)
- Liver problems
- Buildup of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis)
- Chronic pain
- Other health problems
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Files Stribild Class Action Lawsuit
AIDS Health Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, filed lawsuits on behalf of Devin Martinez, Ricardo Wohler and other Stribild users who purchased Stribild and other HIV medicines in May 2018.
This California lawsuit is separate from the individual injury lawsuits filed by people who suffered renal failure and other injuries from TDF, but it deals with similar issues.
According to the complaint, Gilead misrepresented TDF as a safer drug to treat HIV as early as 2001. The FDA even reprimanded Gilead in 2002 and 2003 for claiming the drug had no toxicities and would not cause bone or kidney damage, but the company continued to downplay the risks.
Allegations against Gilead in the class lawsuit include:
- Failing to disclose that its HIV drug had significant risk for toxicity and bone and kidney damage
- Failed to warn of the kidney and bone risks in all patients, not just those with preexisting kidney and bone problems
- Gilead misrepresented the risks and benefits of its TDF drugs to sell them
What is TDF HIV Medication?
Stribild belongs to a group of highly toxic chemical pharmaceuticals known as NRTIs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors). NRTI drugs work by blocking a specific enzyme called reverse transcriptase (RT).
The RT enzyme helps certain types of cells copy their DNA and replicate themselves through a process called reverse transcription.
Retroviruses such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) utilize the RT enzyme in their early stages to duplicate and fuel progression and expansion of the virus inside the body.
TDF medication doesn't kill the virus so it cannot cure HIV/AIDS. However, by blocking the RT enzyme, Stribild effectively prevents the HIV virus cells from multiplying. When used in combination with other drugs, TDF can not only stop HIV from growing but actually reduce the amount of HIV in the system.
TDF was developed and patented by Gilead Sciences Inc. In 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TDF for use in the treatment of HIV infection.
Stribild was a groundbreaking drug and soon after its release, hundreds of thousands of people living with HIV-1 were using it to manage their condition. If left untreated, HIV can literally destroy the body's immune system and be fatal. Stribild drastically changed the outlook and prognosis for countless HIV patients.
Unfortunately, the amazing benefits of Stribild came with a heavy price tag. TDF is not easily absorbed into the body. As a result, users must take very high doses of the drug in order for it to have any effect.
This meant that Stribild had a long list of potential side effects including problems with the kidneys and loss of bone density. A number of studies have now confirmed that continued use of Stribild can cause acute kidney disease, cancer, and osteoporosis and the incidence rate of these side effects is alarmingly high.
Judge Clears Suit Alleging Gilead Sciences Sold Defective HIV Medications
U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar has greenlighted a lawsuit filed by a group of patients accusing the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. of negligence, products liability, and a host of other allegations surrounding its tenofovir disoproxil fumarate- containing HIV drugs, but agreed to narrow the scope of the case by tossing allegations that Gilead hid knowledge that the medicines are “unreasonably and unnecessarily unsafe."
Tigar cleared various other claims made in the suit, including design defect, negligence and product liability claims.
Which Other HIV Drugs Contain Tenofovir?
In addition to Stribild, other HIV medications that contain tenofovir include:
Check out our website to find out which dangerous drugs lawsuits our lawyers are currently accepting.
Can I File a Stribild Lawsuit?
Only a qualified attorney can determine whether you are eligible to file a lawsuit against Gilead Sciences, the maker of Stribild, which is why we are currently offering free case evaluations on Stribild-induced injury cases. If you were injured after taking Stribild, simply fill out the confidential evaluation form below to contact our law firm now.
Most lawsuits claim that a drug was sold with design, manufacturing, and/or marketing defects, which typically refers to a company’s failure to warn of a certain side effect.
In the case of Stribild, our attorneys suspect that patients may be able to take legal action in light of claims that Gilead failed to adequately warn doctors and patients about the risk of kidney damage and bone problems associated with its anti-HIV medications.
Read more: Can I File a Stribild Class Action Lawsuit?
Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms
- Weight loss and poor appetite
- Swollen ankles, feet or hands
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
- Blood in your urine
- An increased need to urinate – particularly at night
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- Itchy skin
- Muscle cramps
- Feeling sick
- Headaches
- Erectile dysfunction in men
How Can Filing a Lawsuit Help Me?
By filing a lawsuit against the maker of Stribild, you may be entitled to collect compensation for all current and future medical expenses related to the treatment of your injury, as well as for damages for pain and suffering. Additionally, filing a lawsuit can help hold the drug’s manufacturer accountable for releasing an allegedly defective drug into the marketplace, and to discourage other pharmaceutical companies from engaging in similar conduct.
Get a Free Stribild Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers
The Dangerous Drugs Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Stribild lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Stribild Lawsuits in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you were harmed by the side effects of Stribild, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free consultation. You may be entitled to seek compensation and hold Gilead Sciences accountable by filing a suit and we can help.
