Can Sue...

 

Drugmaker Can Be Sued for Delaying Release of Better Med, Court Rules

The above is a ruling from a California justice cited in this article.  The ruling affects Gilead's decision to keep marketing TDF (Tenofovir)  While pushing back the the development of TAF to insure the prior's financial success.  The case states Gilead knew of adverse affects the original could have such as bone & kidney damage.  The company continued to market TDF, even though they had knowledge of a safer version, TAF, which they shelved for years.  All of this was done to insure profitability.

The plaintiffs are suing for compensation.  They are not suing to claim the original drug was defective.  Only that it was sold when a knowingly safer version was available.  They believe it was the company's responsibility to promote the safest version.   The suit is over negligence & fraudulent concealment. 

The court announced this can move forward unless Gilead can prove it withheld the newer med for some other viable reason besides profit.  Gilead intends to take this to the state's Supreme Court.  Of course the company is crying fowl.

This is an important development.  Give it a read.  This won't be the last of this & could happen to other companies.  Take care.

Cya...

Another Privacy Blunder...

Gilead stepped in it again.  According to this piece  & others, the pharma corp revealed sensitive info on  mailers that could be seen by anyone viewing the outside of the envelope.   See below.

Who knows how many people received these. Many  are very private about their lives, especially their health.  The letters were a violation.  They could very well endanger the recipients. 

Not surprisingly, there's a lawsuit.  There should be.  Gilead is trying to get ahead of the matter.  But litigation may be the only  way to figure how such a thing happened at all.

Take care.

Cya...

4 Things...

1st, our internet went out last night, I'm doing this quickly in case of a repeat.  I'm tired this morning.  This weather & crap is  keeping me worn out.

2nd, according to this piece, the maker of Truvada, Gilead is filing a counter suit.  The US has filed litigation against the company for violating agreements.   The drugmaker claims the US violated the agreement by secretly filing patents protections.   I have no idea where this will end up.

3rd, this article ties HIV research to COVID-19.   The piece discusses the drug Cabotegravir which is a long acting med similar to Dolutegravir, in drugs like Triumeq.  The difference being Cabotegravir has a much longer half-life & has been tied to long lasting HIV med research.  

Most research is looking at 1-3 months, this study is looking into an annual injection.  The piece says it would not only being a treatment but act as a vaccine for the duration.   This wouldn't be a vaccine, but a short term stand in for it.  

The piece was rather click-baity with it's tie to COVID-19.  The only thing it mentioned was this kind of research could be applied to treating COVID.  Sort of a cheap shot, but the article is interesting.

4th, it's supposed to storm pretty bad this evening.   It could knock out the net & power.   If it does, it may take a while for things to get back up.  Tomorrow's post could be late. Hopefully, it won't be that bad.

Cya...

Re-Update...

I've posted about this twice.  1st, about how paywalls kept me from seeing an article about misleading ads concerning HIV on Facebook.  2nd, I posted the next day, activists weren't mad about misleading HIV info, but about ads concerning Truvada.  Technically, I've posted once more about this issue, I just didn't realize it was related.

This piece is from a law firm's site promoting legal against Gilead for health issues regarding Truvada.  There are other pieces out there as well, but this is what some people are screaming about.  This suit is proposing Truvada & all TDF based medications are less safe.  TDF is an earlier form of Tenofovir.  

This relates back to a post I made about Gilead delaying the development of a safer HIV med, TAF.  A newer, less toxic version of the medication Tenofovir.  Many believe Gilead delayed it to insure it's patent for TDF was extended.

All HIV meds are toxic to some extent.  Is lawsuit legitimate?  I don't know.  The attorneys say, "Yes" & Gilead & PrEP activists scream, "No."  This will either be settled or have to go to court.  This isn't just on Facebook, there are TV ads, web promotions & probably print pieces as well. 

The problem is the allegations might be true.  Or they could be  a strike at Gilead for delaying the safer med.  Either way, this isn't going to disappear.   I"ll try to keep an eye on this.

Cya...

US vs Gilead...

This piece details how the US government is suing Gilead over it's PrEP medications, including Truvada.  Apparently, there was some substantial monies involved from the US Department of Health & Human Services.  As well as some violations of patents owned at least in part by the department.

I'm not sure what the outcome of this might be.  It seems like more & more people are getting sick of Gilead's tactics.  I don't have any interest in PrEP, but this could be a precedent for other meds as well.   It's worth watching.

It's raining & has been for almost a day.  I'm tired of the drear.  Take care.  The van's back & so far it's still working.  It needed a new battery.  I wish they'd done that 1st time.  

Cya...

Litigation....

This article gives insight into legal action against Gilead.  The company is accused of making deals to block the development of generic versions of their medications.  Especially anything with tenofovir, the base for many of the company's medications, notably Truvada (PrEP).   These same deals would also mostly eliminate any competition over cost.  Gilead would face no competition in the market.

There are many articles covering this development.  This was the most user friendly & easily available.  Give it & maybe them a read.   Take care.

Cya...

My Pharm...

In Summer of 2017,  2 or more health care providers/pharmacies disclosed the HIV status of 1,000's.  AETNA did & so did my pharmacy, CVS.   The information was exposed due to a faulty design in the envelope.  Correspondence with the client was sent via envelopes with clear windows.  These transparent parts easily allowed for others to discover the HIV status of the letter's intended recipient. 

Was this intentional?  Highly unlikely.   Both agencies are facing litigation. This article discusses how an HIV drug assistance program in Ohio is suing CVS for exposing the status over 6,000.   If these people revealed their status should've been up to them.  Not due to corporate carelessness.   It's no wonder why people don't trust companies.   This wasn't done out of maliciousness.  It was done due to disregard for anything else than efficiency.  It wasn't personal, it was callous, uncaring.  All these companies were concerned with was making it easier on themselves.  Now they're being sued.

Good.  

Health issues are supposed to be private.  We have laws covering these matters.  Let these entities start to respect those laws or let them pay.

Cya..