Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate

Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate

Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) is an antiretroviral medication used to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS and to treat chronic hepatitis B. It is a prodrug of tenofovir, which means it is metabolized into tenofovir in the body. TAF has a better side effect profile than tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), another prodrug of tenofovir, particularly in terms of kidney and bone safety.

Pharmacology

Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate is a prodrug of tenofovir, an adenosine analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor. As a prodrug, TAF is metabolized into tenofovir, its active form, in the body. Tenofovir then inhibits the action of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme crucial to the replication of HIV and hepatitis B virus.

Medical uses

TAF is used in combination with other antiretroviral medications to treat HIV/AIDS. It is also used to treat chronic hepatitis B when other treatment options are not suitable. TAF is often preferred over TDF due to its improved side effect profile, particularly in terms of kidney and bone safety.

Side effects

Common side effects of TAF include nausea, diarrhea, and headache. Serious side effects may include kidney problems, decreased bone density, and a buildup of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis).

History

Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate was approved for medical use in the United States in 2015. It is marketed under the brand name Vemlidy by Gilead Sciences.

See also

• List of antiretroviral drugs
• HIV/AIDS
• Chronic hepatitis B