The Food and Drug Association approved on Thursday a new one-pill HIV treatment, called Genvoya, containing four drugs in a single dose.
In a statement, F.D.A. said (via NBC News), "Genvoya contains a new form of tenofovir that has not been previously approved. This new form of tenofovir provides lower levels of drug in the bloodstream, but higher levels within the cells where HIV-1 replicates."
Genvoya, with 91 percent less tenofovir in the bloodstream, will less likely cause complications such as kidney damage and loss of bone density, a common condition for old people who have survived HIV. The new pill combines four HIV drugs in one dose: elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide. Genvoya, which is made by Gilead Sciences, is considered to be an updated version of Stribid, which also has four drugs in its formula.
"Genvoya appears to be associated with less kidney toxicity and decreases in bone density than previously approved tenofovir-containing regimens based on laboratory measures," F.D.A. further said.
In its report, CTV News said that Gilead's annual list price for Genvoya will be $31,362. But for patients who cannot afford the new HIV pill, Gilead will also offer financial assistance.
NBC added in its report that although there are already 36 different HIV drugs available in the market, there is no cure yet for human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. Experts recommend that once contacted with HIV, they should start taking drug cocktails like Genvoya. These drug cocktails keep the virus at extremely low levels protecting the immune system from massive damage and making patients less likely to infect others.
Gilead CEO John C. Martin, in a statement, said, "While exceptional progress had been made in the field of HIV, there is still a need for new treatment options that may help improve the health of people as they grow older with the disease."
