Gilead Sciences is the manufacturer of the controversial HIV drug Truvada. According to a lawsuit brought by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Gilead withheld a safer drug from the market for a number of years.
The alternative medication does not use the toxic ingredient tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) but instead is based on a less damaging active ingredient known as tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). The lawsuits also allege that Gilead’s own clinical trials showed that the new drug is safer than Truvada.
Truvada Can Cause Dangerous Side Effects
TDF came under fire as soon as Truvada hit the market in 2001 for potentially causing a range of serious side effects. According to the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), one of the serious side effects includes kidney damage. Truvada can also cause other devastating health problems, including:
- Bone loss and osteoporosis
- Lactic acidosis
- Liver disease and liver failure
- Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)
If you have used Truvada and developed a serious condition as a result, you could file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. A Truvada lawsuit lawyer can advise you and help you with all aspects of filing a claim.
Pharmaceuticals Can Be Profit-Driven
Pharmaceutical companies spend billions developing new drugs, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Research, clinical trials, and tests do not come cheap. In this country, drugs also need approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since not all drugs make it to market, pharmaceuticals have sizable overheads.
The process for developing new drugs is long, difficult, and expensive. This means that once a drug manufacturer successfully brings a drug onto the market, they want to maximize profits from the medication as much as possible. This leads some manufacturers to put public safety second. There are various ways in which a drug manufacturer may act in unethical ways, including:
Failure to Warn
In a dangerous drug claim, failure to warn can describe missing instructions on labeling as well as the omission of any side effects. In some cases, a side effect may not have been discovered in clinical trials, and in others, a manufacturer deliberately tries to conceal any serious side effects.
Manufacturing Defects
Drug defects can occur during the manufacturing process, including contamination and other issues.
Dangerous Drug
This is commonly known as a drug design defect. When side effects can be so severe as to cause great harm to a patient, the drug could be dangerous for consumers. Patients who suffered injuries due to the bad drug could sue the manufacturer.
Truvada Lawsuits
Gilead sciences may have downplayed the serious side effects of its drug Truvada. While all drugs, including over-the-counter medications, can have side effects, we depend on drug manufacturers to make drugs as safe as possible. If a drug can cause a number of potentially life-threatening side effects, it could be classified as a dangerous or “bad” drug. Individuals harmed by such a drug may have legal recourse. Those filing lawsuits may also have further legal recourse due to Gilead withholding a safer drug deliberately. Plaintiffs who suffered injuries could argue that they would have avoided Truvada and used a safer alternative if they had been given the opportunity.
Compensation Could Be Available
Individuals who got hurt by Truvada could potentially file suit and recover compensation for their injuries and monetary losses. While it is next to impossible to know what a potential settlement could be worth, plaintiffs could seek the following damages, among others:
- Medical expenses
- Income losses
- Miscellaneous expenses arising from the injury
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Reduction in life quality
Ultimately, the severity of a plaintiff’s injuries and medical costs will largely determine the size of any settlement. Those who suffered extensive injuries and have a stack of medical bills could expect a considerable settlement in a successful claim. A Truvada lawsuit lawyer can advise those who are currently considering taking legal action.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC Can Work in Your Best Interests
Getting sick due to a dangerous drug can feel unfair and frustrating, especially if your health is now ruined for years to come. However, if an unethical pharmaceutical company is responsible for your injuries and damages, they could also be responsible for making you whole again and paying for your damages. If you have proof that links your injuries to the drug Truvada, you should contact us.
We can potentially help you pursue justice and compensation. Ben Crump Law, PLLC is not afraid of standing up to well-known pharmaceuticals. We know how to handle defective drug claims and want to help victims get justice and adequate compensation for their ordeal. Do not delay seeking legal advice, as the timeframe for filing a lawsuit can be short, depending on the state you live in. Call us today for a free consultation to determine whether you have a claim: (800) 983-6116.
