Mid May Updates...

I had my appointment with the new provider, Edward Wemmerus.  He seems to be a good fit so far.  We'll see as things go.  If my primary falls apart, I'll probably go to him.   I found out when things go back to normal at my primary's office, most the office staff will no longer be there.   They had  worked there for decades.  Weird.  

I saw another article about cabotegravir.  It was stating there was a massive efficacy difference between it and Truvada, 60+%.  How is it possible, when Truvada was touted as nearly bullet proof?  You can't trust the marketing stats.

Cya...

Another Strike...

Earlier this month, I posted about a court decision against the drug maker Gilead.  It was over patent  ownership concerning the drug, Truvada, currently used for PrEP.  This piece covers round 2, where Gilead lost again.  I'm sorry for using articles with paywalls, but I can't find this anywhere else.  

Since a notable amount of the funding & research was covered by government agencies, Gilead is not the full owner.  At this rate, they might not be the owner at all.  They may only have rights to use the formulation.  That could mean the cost for all drugs based on Truvada & it's formulations might see a serious price drop.  

The car issue seems to have been low tire pressure.   We've been up & out early every day this week.  It's not our normal schedule & it's been tiring.   The weather shifting & allergen development has added to the week's difficulty.  Last night was cold, 22 or so.  Tonight won't be quite as cold & then we'll warm up a bit.  There may still have a few more freezes in  store for us.

Take care.

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...

Another PrEP Failure...

This article tells of another Truvada failure.  I'd heard about this case in San Francisco, CA earlier in the month.    I was waiting to see what would be said about it & it's very little.   At least they're not denying this case or blaming the patient.  They claim this is only the 6th failure.  I doubt that.  It may be the 6th case they couldn't deny, but it's unlikely this is just the 6th failure.  

The birth control pill nor condoms never claimed 100% success rates.  PrEP was sold with a nearly 100% efficacy.  Nothing is that, at least Gilead is finally admitting that.  Part(s) of this drug are 2 of the most apt meds for HIV resistance.  Probably due to a lack of regimen adherence.  But, still the resistance is there.   This pill depends on a host of factors, some affected by patient knowingly & unknowingly.   Drugs often have interactions with other conditions, meds, foods that can impact their efficacy.  

But, it's only 6 people they're admitting too.  They're still not ready to push education & condoms again.  That might cut into profits & undermine customer faith.  Even if this was the 6,000th  patient, Gilead will still say Truvada was a great medication.  The company's concern is profits, not patients.

Cya...

Drugs...

I've discussed drugs & their relationship to HIV.    In this case, IV opiod use & Truvada.  Not necessarily together.   I've mentioned the growing number of HIV cases in rural US & how it's being caused mostly by IV opiod usage.   I've also made my feelings about Truvada or PrEP clear.

This article is 1 of many detailing the FDA's decision to recall the Endo's opiod Opana ER. Too many people are it as an IV street drug.  Increasing HIV cases & deaths via overdose.

This article discusses how the FDA cleared the path for generic  Truvada. This doesn't do anything about my arguments against PrEP, but it does alter things.  This could mean more people could afford the drug. That doesn't come without complications.  It also means the Gilead's pocket book will be hit hard.  Then again this won't go the market for a year or so & Gilead is already pushing the next big thing in PrEP.

Interesting developments.

Cya..

OK. We Get It...

I looked at the articles today as usual.  7 of the top 20 articles were about Truvada/PrEP.  I get it.  Gilead has deep pockets & can keep getting it's drug pushed in nearly every outlet.  It can do this & make sure all the voices of opposition are suppressed, derided & ridiculed.  

PrEP's failure was quickly swept under the rug.  Many countries still don't embrace the concept or PrEP.  Many of these are very prosperous, leading edge cultures.  Still, they've found reasons to not support the concept of treatment as prevention & PrEP.

35% of the top articles dealt with this subject.  You'd think it was brand spanking new & shiny with all the press it keeps getting.  No, it's just a multi-fronted advertising campaign pushed by Gilead. 

Sorry, Gilead, not everyone's buying what your selling.  

Cya...

Descovy

The FDA has approved a new medication called Descovy.   This article goes into more details.   This  is next generation Truvada.  It's the baby of what came before, mostly the same, but allegedly better.   So, PrEP's 2nd take. 

Most of the articles have been very brief.  Making it hard to determine what they feel is so much safer about this medication than it's predecessor.    I guess we'll see.

Being this is just the next step in Truvada's evolution, how much more resilient can we safely expect it to be as a PrEP drug?   Isn't it funny this comes right on the heels of the Truvada's 1st widely known failure as a PrEP med?   Especially, since said failure has so successfully been swept under the rug by the news.  

This new med may be safer.  It may work better as an HIV med & as PrEP.  Or, it could be the best way in holding on to a patent & garnering good press for Gilead.   Not to mention bringing in another cash cow.  Yes, I'm suspicious.  No, I don't trust pharmaceutical companies.  

Better to be weary & careful then just to celebrate the mighty Gilead for it's new savior drug.  Call me cynical or jaded.  I'm fine with that.

Cya...

Irks...

For the past several days, like the year before that, there's been a virtual flood of articles regarding PrEP & Truvada.   Funny thing is, just a little while back PrEP failed.   I blogged about it & numerous agencies reported it.   Still within a week (maybe a little more) the whole issue of PrEP failure had been cleared from the news & swept under the proverbial rug. 

I didn't trust PrEP before.   Now with this vanishing of the failure, I trust it even less.  I still think PrEP will eventually fail in a catastrophic manner, until then it's a massive boon in profits for those pharmacy companies that develop them, think Gilead.  This corp plans on getting the cash while it can & then just getting.  

Cya...

Resistance...

This article details how in some parts of the world people are dealing with uncontrolled HIV even while on a drug regimen.  This is  often due to a resistance to the drug, Tenofovir.   There are 2 ways in which this can happen.  People on a drug regimen with Tenofovir fail to follow the regimen as directed or they're infected by someone with HIV already resistant to the medication.  

Tenofovir is a widely used antiviral medication for both HIV & hepatitis.  If this drug is compromised, the ramifications could be huge.  There are other medications, but they're often more costly & their regimens more complex.   This medication is used alone & in combination with other drugs.  

This could  jeopardize the efficacy of some of the most common HIV drugs.  Among them, Truvada, the medication being pushed for PrEP.  Truvada is made up of Tenofovir & Emtricitabine.   This medication would be far less effective in preventing HIV or fighting it,  if the virus was already resistant to Tenofovir. 

This article makes 3 points for me.  You must always implement safer sex practices.  You need to stay on top  of your drug regimen.  Finally, a lot of people's fears concerning PrEP are being legitimized.   I was never sold on the idea Truvada was going to save us all.   With a Tenofovir resistant strain of  HIV out there, there's no way this medication can be the panacea or silver bullet it's been touted to be. 

Cya...

Ridiculous Article...

This "article" & I use that term very lightly, poses the question what does post-HIV, gay culture look like.   I read it because it could've been an excellent topic & conversation starter.  It wasn't.

Mr. Aviance, the author, normally writes on music.  OK, he's still entitled to his 2¢ on the matter.  I thought maybe he might have an unique perspective. I was wrong.

This is entire article is about his fear.  He's  anti-Truvada.  I get that, so am I.  But his opposition, is to the idea that people who want to use PrEP don't want to use condoms.  They want to "bareback."  Well, Duh!

To him, this is not only a dangerous thing to engage in sexually,  It's also a way means by which he distinguishes sluts & stupid people.  He's a prude.

This bigot is worried in a world without HIV or very little risk of the illness, gay men will stop using condoms.  This behavior will be seen as perfectly acceptable, like it was before HIV.  How ever will he judge people?

I oppose Truvada over concerns about the potential harm it may cause, that many won't use it properly & the fact it's just a giant kick in revenue for Gilead.  I think there's more concern for profits than health.  This man is worried about whose intelligence he can question & who he can slut-shame. 

Mr. J. Nelson Aviance; writer, opera singer & musiciologist, if this is really your opinion, then you're an absolute ass.  If your concern is over which people you may no longer be able to judge, then to hell with you.  I find your article disgusting.

I hope there is a day people can stop using condoms out of fear of transmitting illnesses.  I hope this because it might save lives.  I hope this because all the disapproving dolts' heads will explode in horror.  I hope this so people will have 1 less thing to use  in judgement of others.

I realize, I was judgy in this post.  That's my issue to deal with. I posted this at a single individual.  The author of that article is worried about how to judge the gay community.  I still have my issues with Truvada, but they were never about people being Truvada-whores.

Way to go Mr. Aviance, push to hold on to something just to divide our community.  What a jerk.

Cya...

Someone Else Against Truvada...

This rather lengthy article is about Michael Weinstein.   He is the head of the Los Angeles based AIDS Healthcare Foundation.   The article is seriously worth the read.  He pronounces his views on the drug, Truvada & the use of it as a PrEP medication as a line of defense against HIV.

The article presents his opposition from government agencies, the porn industry, the pharmaceutical industry & even other HIV activists.   He states the info about PrEP could not only be misleading, but it could wind up leading to a health disaster.  The article goes on about how he feels this will lead to a lessening application of other safe sex practices.

I've wrote about my concerns over this medication before.  I think Truvada is going to be a bad call in the long run.  Do yourself a favor & read the article.  If you're considering using the med as a PrEP, then make sure you're as educated as possible.

Cya...

Irritating Article...

This article hacked me off a bit.  The World Health Organization (WHO) wants all gay men (especially the admittedly sexually active 1's)  to start using PrEP medications like Truvada.  I've repeatedly voiced my opinions about this medication.  

Points of irritation:

1. The WHO's blanket prescription of a med many have issues with
2. The fact gay males are being specifically targeted
3. The sheer expense of this idea

This mentality basically replaces all others such as education, restraint & safe sex practices.  This article functionally ignored other demographics transmitting HIV.   Then it goes into the cost.  It costs a minimum of $10,000 US annually & that doesn't include periodic HIV testing & blood screening for side effects/reactions.  So closer to the $20K US mark.   That makes it somewhere between $27 - 54 daily in the USA.   Yet, in India, South Africa & other nations with low incomes it comes in at about $100 US annually or 25 cents a day.  Why the hell should I have to pay somewhere between 100 - 200 times more for the same meds & treatment? 

To this article I say.  To hell with this approach.  The WHO is way off base on this matter.   I would never suggest a PrEP to anyone.  This is just a means for Gilead to up their sells & control more of the HIV market.  This isn't medicine, it's capitalism.

Cya...

Recovering...

I'm still tired from yesterday's trip.   It went better than we'd hoped, but it was still long.  But, that step is done & there aren't any more until mid June.  

I'm not up to blogging much.   So, I'll link to this article.  It's about how doctors in Israel are reluctant to allow or be in favor prescribing Truvada as a prophylactic medication.    They make good points & it's nice to see people in the medical community agreeing with my points, even if they aren't in my country.

Cya...

Truvada Revolution...

This med just won't stay out of the news.  It's the condom replacement drug   The 1 that's supposed to lower your chances of contracting HIV, except when it doesn't.  All things, including Truvada have a failure rate.  

Let's not talk about the cost of Truvada, which for wide spread, nigh global use, could be past the billions.    Let's not consider the unlikelihood most people will stick with the drug regimen well enough to insure it's efficacy. Let's not even speak of the stigma to what's being referred to as being a Truvada Whore.

Let's consider the times when for whatever reason this regimen fails to act as a prophylactic for the individual.   The times when it will fail & those people who will contract HIV.  Let's talk about how easily HIV mutates after exposure to medications.  

What happens when a person contracts HIV this way?  What happens when people are unknowingly transmitting HIV that has mutated after exposure to Truvada?   Could this render this medication impotent?  Could this impact other antiretroviral medications?   How far spread would it be, before someone caught on to what was happening?  

This drive to spend a global fortune for the world to have a more convenient way to maybe not spread HIV could very well lead to a far worse situation.   So far, most the benefit will be go solely to Gilead, the makers of Truvada.   By the time this things fails, if it does, they could've made billions.   When someone finally, notices the failure, it could be too late.

Using this drug as a replacement for a condom is stupid & dangerous.  Not only on an individual level, but to such a point it could eventually impact us all.  But so long as the corporations makes $ & the people don't have to wear condoms for while, who cares?  At least, that's sentiment that seems to surround this issue.

Cya...

Picking Sides...

This article details a schism in the gay community.  To use Truvada as an HIV preventative or not.  Some people view this as something that will make people more reluctant to use condoms than they already are.   Even though this med would only help with HIV & not other STD's.  

The pro's for the use of Truvada are simple.  It can lower the chance of contracting HIV.  That's a pretty big point in it's favor, especially for those that refuse to use condoms.

The cons are a bit more numerous.  Truvada without some form of assistance or insurance is over a $1,000 (US) monthly.   The list of side effects & interactions for this med are as long as any other HIV med.   In addition, you will need regular labs drawn to keep an eye on your status & any chance of toxicity.  

This puts aside all the political & moral hoo-ha about the matter.  Many are taking this as a chance to promote their moral superiority over those that use the med as preventative.   Cheap shot in my opinion.

Personally, I wouldn't use Truvada.  Not for a moral reason, but for a health & financial point.  I can't afford it.  If I wasn't +, there is no way I'd want to deal with the fallout of HIV meds.  This med helps, but it isn't guaranteed to keep you safe. Maybe someday there will be a pill we can simply pop & there goes all the chance of transmission without any serious cost or consequence.  That day isn't here yet.  

Cya...

Concerns Acknowledged...

Recently I've been stating my concerns about the anti-aids pill (Truvada) & the at home quick HIV test.   Over the last few days I've been seeing more articles & blips on TV talking about those same concerns.  I feel sort of vindicated.  I know I'm not the only one who has made those statements, but most often statements such as those get ignored by the mainstream until it's too late.  You're left feeling like a scientists from a disaster flick, who keeps telling everyone about volcano in downtown Dallas only to have every one laugh at him.  Then when the volcano hits, they blame him for not being more convincing.

The problems with Truvada are adherence, boosting risk allowances & expense.  Adherence is pretty straight forward.  Some people are going to see this pill as a licence to take extra risks.  Then there is the fact of the $.  This drug will be way out of reach for many, if not most, of the at-risk people the med's makers were aiming at.

As for the test, there is the concern of accuracy & lack of support.  I've addressed both before & they are both dangerous.  Any person not in a great state of mind should probably be considered highly depressed & possibly suicidal after receiving the diagnosis of being HIV +.  I'd say it was even worse for those who never even suspected they were +.

There it is.  The concerns I had are being shared by others in places to actually have their voice heard on the matter.

Cya...

Prevention Pill...

It looks like Truvada will be available as a preventative. The FDA is moving for it to be accepted & this will allow the med to be sold to HIV- people as a means to stop transmission of the virus.  Funny, I thought that was what condoms were for.

I get what they're trying to do here.  They say they're trying to prevent HIV.  To me it seems like they're trying to make more $.  What insurance agency is going to pay for a med you don't actually need?  A med you only need due to risky behavior.  We aren't talking about giving this to medical staff that might potentially become infected.  We're talking about people who engage in unsafe sexual practices.  This med costs $10,000+ a year.  That's a huge investment.  Who's going to pay for that?  The state, the individual, insurance...?  

Add to this that this drug comes with a host of reactions like all HIV meds.  These aren't easy to deal with.  This med must be taken consistently as prescribed for it to be effective.  Not doing so, could not only render it ineffective, it could lead to viral resistance.  That resistant HIV could then be shared with others.

At this point in time, with the meds as they are, with the costs as they are & the dangers as they are, I can honestly say I do not support this approach to HIV prevention.  Not that anyone would listen to me.  But that's my opinion.

Cya...