Mass Tort Lawyers for TDF-HIV Litigation

If you take a prescription drug that contains tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) to treat HIV, AIDS, or hepatitis B, do not hesitate to contact the prescription drug lawsuit attorneys of Wallace Miller. We might be able to represent you in a mass tort lawsuit against Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of TDF.

People around the country made claims about the harmful effects of HIV/AIDS medications containing the active ingredient TDF. The manufacturer knew about the dangers of its drug but chose not to disclose that information. The company also knew about an alternative ingredient to use in the medication but chose profits over safety. As a result, patients who have taken drugs containing TDF suffer from a range of medical conditions, including bone damage and kidney failure.

Wallace Miller knows the devastation of finding out that a drug you trusted to treat your illness caused serious harm. You have a right to pursue legal action against the drug company and seek compensation for your medical expenses. We can help you hold Gilead Sciences liable for their misconduct. Our team will advocate for your rights and remain in your corner to provide the legal representation and guidance you need until the end.

Call Wallace Miller for your free consultation at (312) 261-6193 today or fill out our online questionnaire. Let us help you in the fight for justice.

How Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Works

Tenofovir belongs to a class of medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It is an antiviral drug that can treat symptoms of chronic hepatitis B.

Doctors also prescribe certain drugs with the ingredient TDF along with other medications to manage the HIV infection in patients. It works by decreasing the amount of HIV in the body to improve immune system functioning.

TDF and a combination of other prescriptions can’t cure the infection. However, they can improve a person’s health, quality of life, and life expectancy. They also stop the spread of HIV and reduces the risk of new infections, cancer, and other complications.

Types of TDF Medications

Various brand name TDF drugs are on the market to treat HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B, including:

• Symfi & Symfi Lo
• Viread
• Truvada
• Stribild
• Cimduo
• AccessPak for HIV PEP expanded with Viracept
• AccessPak for HIV PEP expanded with Kaletra
• PrEP drugs
• Atripla
• Complera

If you currently take or used to take any TDF drug for hepatitis B, HIV, or AIDS and experience unusual symptoms, contact Wallace Miller immediately. We can review the circumstances of your case and determine whether you’re eligible to join a mass tort lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Common Side Effects of Medications with TDF

Many patients report severe side effects while taking TDF in conjunction with other drugs to treat their HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B. The most common side effects include:

• Reduced urine output
• Persistent bone or back pain
• Confusion
• Tooth decay and loss
• Bone fractures
• Swollen ankles, legs, and feet
• Loss of height
• Fluid retention
• Infrequent urination or trouble urinating

TDF can also lead to a range of complications and medical problems, such as:

• Kidney toxicity
• Osteoporosis
• Skin hyperpigmentation
• Lactic acidosis
• Acute or chronic kidney disease or kidney failure
• Respiratory infections
• Sinusitis
• Itching and rashes
• Osteomalacia
• Fanconi syndrome

It’s critical to seek immediate medical care if you notice adverse effects or complications while taking TDF drugs. Your doctor could find another way to adequately manage your symptoms and prevent further issues from arising.

Pursuing a Mass Tort Lawsuit

You might be able to join a mass tort lawsuit against Gilead Sciences for the injuries you sustained while taking HIV/AIDS medications that contain tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Mass tort litigation involves multiple plaintiffs with the same or similar injuries consolidating their individual lawsuits into a single legal action to bring against the same defendant.

Plaintiffs can work together on similar elements of the lawsuit. They handle the differing aspects of their cases separately, such as the type and severity of their injuries.

The financial award typically differs for each plaintiff. Since the severity of injuries and the circumstances of every plaintiff’s case can vary, the compensation isn’t the same for everyone involved. The court will review contributing factors to determine the amount of money that makes sense for each plaintiff.

Common Types of Defects in Prescription Drugs

Product liability law is meant to hold manufacturers and distributors liable for providing defective products. The drug company supplied the public with a medication that contains various defects. It is toxic and can lead to a range of problems that affect a patient’s health and life.

When you pursue a mass tort lawsuit against Gilead Sciences, you must have proof of a defect in its TDF medication to recover compensation. The most common types of product defects include:

• Design defect – A design defect is an error in the design of the drug that makes it inherently dangerous for patients to take. This error can cause an entire batch of medications to end up on the market and harm people who take them.
• Manufacturing defect – A manufacturing defect occurs when there’s a flaw, error, or mistake during the manufacture of a drug. The medication is inherently unsafe for consumer use despite the company’s use of a safe design.
• Failure to warn – Marketing defects can involve multiple types of problems. The manufacturer must meet safety and quality standards to provide patients with medications they can take without experiencing severe medical issues. Knowingly placing a drug on the market that can cause complications and marketing it as safe is an example of a marketing defect. Additionally, the manufacturer must include the known risks on its warning labels so patients are aware of what they could experience if they take the drug.

Wallace Miller will determine the type of defect that led to your injury or disease. Many TDF lawsuits state failure to warn and design defects as the reasons for injuries. According to these claims, the drug company provided a toxic drug without warning patients and doctors of the defects or informing them of a safer alternative to treat HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B.

Recalls for TDF Medications

Although there are multiple reports of the dangers of drugs that contain TDF, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn’t issued any recalls. The prescription medications manufactured by Gilead Sciences are still on the market and available to treat HIV and hepatitis B.

However, the FDA issued warning letters regarding the marketing practices of the manufacturer in 2002 and 2003. The agency noted it did not approve TDF for use in patients with a hepatitis B co-infection. However, the drug company marketed it for that reason anyway. Additionally, the agency didn’t approve TDF for first-line treatment of HIV until late 2003, but the manufacturer recommended the prescription to be used for that purpose for many years prior to that date.

The FDA listed various reports associated with tenofovir since 2001 in its Adverse Event Reporting System. It includes 629 fatalities and 3,785 serious injuries. It also mentions 279 cases of musculoskeletal issues and 691 cases of renal dysfunction.

Compensation for TDF-Related Complications

Whether you file an individual lawsuit or participate in a mass tort lawsuit against the TDF manufacturer, you could receive compensation to cover your injury-related losses, such as:

• Medical bills
• Emotional distress
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Loss of enjoyment of life

You might also be able to pursue exemplary or punitive damages depending on the state where you live. Some states allow the recovery of this form of compensation for especially egregious or deliberately negligent behavior. The financial award punishes the defendant for their misconduct and attempts to deter similar behavior in the future.

Statute of Limitations for TDF Lawsuits

Each state imposes a specific timeframe for plaintiffs to file their lawsuits. This time period is defined in a statute of limitations. It can range from one to five years, depending on the laws in your state. You must file your lawsuit within the timeframe to seek compensation for your injury.

Contact Us

Wallace Miller is ready to represent you in your case against the TDF manufacturer. We can take over the entire process so you can focus on treating your injury or medical condition. We will investigate your situation, gather evidence, and prepare your case for litigation. You don’t have to worry about taking on the responsibility for any legal aspects of your lawsuit. We will handle everything on your behalf.

Left to right: Nicholas P. Kelly, Edward A. Wallace, Molly Condon Wells, Mark R. Miller, Jessica Wieczorkiewicz, Timothy E. Jackson.

We understand the financial strain many of our clients experience when they suffer an injury and want to pursue legal action. Medical bills can be expensive, and you might worry about whether you can afford to seek legal representation. We take cases on contingency, so you don’t have to pay us upfront. We won’t collect our legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Let Wallace Miller help you in the fight against the negligent drug company. We will create a personalized strategy to meet the unique needs of your case and try to reach the best possible outcome. Our goal is to hold the manufacturer liable and recover the maximum possible compensation so you can treat your medical condition and move ahead with your life.

If you experienced adverse effects of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate while treating AIDS, hepatitis B, or HIV, call Wallace Miller at (312) 261-6193 or fill out our online questionnaire right now for your free consultation.