You may have heard about Descovy (des-ko'-vee), a medicine approved by the FDA in 2015. Descovy is approved to treat HIV. It can also help prevent people from getting HIV through sex.
How Does It Treat HIV?
People with HIV have a virus that spreads in their body and damages the immune system, making it easier for them to get very sick from other infections.
The two medicines contained in Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) work together with other medicines to stop the spread of HIV in your body. This helps protect and preserve the immune system and can prevent the virus from being spread to other people.
Descovy is not a complete treatment regimen for HIV. This means that you will need to take it with other medicines to keep the infection under control.
While Descovy (used with other medicine) can help keep the HIV infection under control, it is not a cure.
How Does It Prevent HIV?
Many people that do not have HIV may be at risk of getting it through sex. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is medicine that people can take to prevent getting HIV.
Descovy, as a single tablet, can be used as PrEP to prevent getting HIV.
Descovy does not protect against or prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like herpes, gonorrhea, or chlamydia.
How Was It Studied for the Treatment of HIV?
Several clinical trials have been conducted to see if Descovy is safe and effective for treating people with HIV.
Two studies focused on those who have never been treated for HIV. In these studies, Descovy (in combination with other medicine) was compared to another HIV treatment regimen. Both studies lasted 48 weeks, and Descovy was found to be equally effective as the other treatment regimen. Also, people taking Descovy had fewer problems with their bones and kidneys.
Another study focused on those already receiving treatment for HIV whose infection was under control. In these studies, patients either kept taking their current regimen or were switched to a regimen containing Descovy. This study lasted 48 weeks, and the Descovy-containing regimen was shown to be highly effective in keeping the HIV infection under control. Also, people taking Descovy had fewer problems with their bones.
How Was It Studied for the Prevention of HIV?
A large study was conducted to see if Descovy is safe and effective as a PrEP regimen in people at risk of getting HIV.
In this study, Descovy was compared to Truvada, an HIV PrEP regimen recommended by the CDC and the United States Public Health Service. At the end of 96 weeks, Descovy was found to be equally effective as Truvada. Also, people taking Descovy had fewer negative changes on bone and kidney tests than Truvada. This suggests that Descovy is equally effective as Truvada and may be a safer option for those with bone and kidney problems.
The trial was continued to see the long-term effects of Descovy. At the end of 144 weeks, almost all patients (more than 99%) taking Descovy were still HIV-negative. This shows that Descovy remained highly effective for preventing HIV. This extension also showed that long-term use of Descovy did not have negative effects on bone and kidney tests.
Who Was Included in These Studies?
Overall, Descovy has been studied in a variety of people.
- Adults (including those 65 and older), adolescents, and children
- Males and females
- Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White people
How Strong Is the Evidence for Descovy?
Based on the current studies, Descovy (when used with other medicine) is a safe and effective treatment for people with HIV. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends Descovy (in combination with other medicine) as one of several first-line treatments for those who are new to HIV treatment or newly diagnosed.
The data also shows that Descovy is safe and effective for preventing HIV in those who may be at risk for getting it. The CDC and the United States Public Health Service recommend Descovy as one of several PrEP regimens.
How Do I Take Descovy?
Descovy is a single tablet taken by mouth once daily. It can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food. Taking it every day and not missing doses is very important in keeping the HIV infection under control or preventing HIV infection from occurring.
Do not stop taking Descovy without talking to your health care provider first.
What Can I Do to Prevent or Manage Side Effects?
The most common side effects seen with Descovy are nausea and diarrhea.
If you have nausea, try taking Descovy with food or a light snack. Eating smaller, more frequent meals may also help. If you have diarrhea, make sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicine can be used to help with side effects of Descovy. Talk to your health care provider for specific recommendations.
These are not all of the side effects of Descovy. Talk with your health care provider if you are having symptoms that bother you. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 800-FDA-1088.
What Types of Drug Interactions Can Happen?
Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of Descovy and vice versa, causing there to be too much or too little medicine in your body. This could lead to serious side effects or the medicine not working well.
Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using or have recently taken. This will help make sure your medicines work well together.
How Do I Know If It Is Working?
Your health care provider will order several routine tests while you are taking Descovy for the treatment of HIV. One of those tests is called an HIV viral load. This measures the number of HIV viruses in your blood. If you have never been treated for HIV, your viral load may be high. Taking Descovy (with other medicine) every day will help your viral load go down and keep the infection under control.
If your HIV is already being treated and is under control and you are being switched to a regimen containing Descovy, your viral load should stay under control if you are taking it every day.
How Do I Know If It Is Working for the Prevention of HIV?
Your health care provider will order several routine tests while you are taking Descovy for the prevention of HIV. One of those tests is an HIV test. This looks for the presence of the HIV virus in your blood, and the test should be negative if you are taking Descovy every day. If you ever test positive for HIV, you will need to start treatment.
Is There Any Cost Assistance Available?
There is a copay program from the manufacturer that may allow you to pay $0 for your prescription. Whether you are eligible depends on whether you have prescription insurance and what type of insurance you have.
You can find out more at advancingaccessconsent.iassist.com. If you have questions about cost, insurance coverage, or any other financial support issue, you can also contact Gilead Advancing Access at 800-226-2056.
