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Descovy is the new truvada, replacing TDF with TAF
This new drug was approved by the FDA in April and is now avaliable in the USA.
Truvada was used for hbv patients with less than optimal response to viread and is considered somewhat more potent and even less resistance prone than viread.
Now Gilead has exchanged the 300mg TDF in Truvada with 25mg of TAF, making it well suited for hbv patients with kidney concerns.
the second component is unchanged, 200mg of emtricitabine, also called FTC, a fluor substituted form of Lamivudine, that provides protection from the development of mutants that will lower the responsiveness to tenofovir.
it's side effects are generally considered very mild, equivalent to lamivudine.
This is theoretically good news for hbv patients waiting eagerly for TAF to be available for HBV.
The problem is the high price: 1500$ for one month supply of 30 pills. I am sure currently no insurance will pay for this, certainly not for hbv patients, it would be off label use.
Truvada was used for hbv patients with less than optimal response to viread and is considered somewhat more potent and even less resistance prone than viread.
Now Gilead has exchanged the 300mg TDF in Truvada with 25mg of TAF, making it well suited for hbv patients with kidney concerns.
the second component is unchanged, 200mg of emtricitabine, also called FTC, a fluor substituted form of Lamivudine, that provides protection from the development of mutants that will lower the responsiveness to tenofovir.
it's side effects are generally considered very mild, equivalent to lamivudine.
This is theoretically good news for hbv patients waiting eagerly for TAF to be available for HBV.
The problem is the high price: 1500$ for one month supply of 30 pills. I am sure currently no insurance will pay for this, certainly not for hbv patients, it would be off label use.
Thanks for the info Studyforhope, is this a finite treatment & do we expect any Hbsag knockdown from this treatment ? Appreciate your intake on this.
Yes it is only approved for hiv, just like Truvada was never approved for hbv. But off label use is always possible and Truvada was also used frequently by hepatologists for difficult cases.
Despite the fact that the inhibitory power of this combo is likely a little higher than TDF or entecavir, it is not a finite treatment. It's main virtue is a good chance for lesser side effects. It would not be worth to spend out of pocket money unless you are in a special situation.
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