You may have heard about Symtuza, a medicine approved by the FDA in 2018 to treat people with HIV who have not been treated yet. It may also be used to replace another medicine for treating HIV in people whose condition is under control and whose infection is not resistant to Symtuza.
Symtuza contains four medicines: cobicistat, darunavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide. These medicines have been used to treat HIV for many years.
How Does Symtuza 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 four medicines contained in Symtuza work together 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.
Symtuza is a single-tablet regimen for HIV. This means that you only have to take one tablet once per day instead of multiple medicines several times per day. This makes it easier to take the medicine, which is very important in treating HIV and keeping the infection under control.
While Symtuza can help keep the HIV infection under control, it does not cure it. Also, Symtuza does not protect against or prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted infections (STI) like herpes, gonorrhea, or chlamydia.
How Was It Studied for HIV?
Several clinical studies have been conducted to see if Symtuza is safe and effective for treating people with HIV.
One study focused on those who have never been treated for HIV. In this study, Symtuza was compared to a first-line HIV treatment regimen recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for certain people. The study lasted 48 weeks, and Symtuza was shown to be as effective as the other treatment regimen. Also, there were no reports of treatment resistance to Symtuza.
Another study focused on those receiving treatment for HIV whose infection was under control. In this study, patients either kept taking their current regimen or were switched to Symtuza. This study lasted 48 weeks, and Symtuza was shown to be highly effective in keeping the HIV infection under control.
Who Was Included in These Studies?
Overall, Symtuza has been studied in a variety of people.
- Adults (including those 65 and older) and adolescents
- Males and females
- Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and White people
How Strong Is the Evidence?
Based on the clinical studies, Symtuza is a safe and effective treatment for people with HIV. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends Symtuza as one of several first-line medicines for certain people who have never been treated for HIV.
How Is Symtuza Taken?
Symtuza is a single tablet taken by mouth once daily. It can be taken at any time of the day, with food. Taking Symtuza each and every day and not missing doses is very important in keeping the HIV infection under control.
Do not stop taking Symtuza without talking to your health care provider first.
What Can I Do to Prevent or Manage the Side Effects?
The most common side effects seen with Symtuza are diarrhea, nausea, and rash.
If you experience diarrhea, make sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. If you experience nausea, try taking Symtuza with a different type of food. Eating smaller, more frequent meals may also help. If you develop a rash, stop Symtuza and call your health care provider right away, as this could be the sign of a severe skin reaction.
Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicine can be used to help with side effects of Symtuza. Talk to your health care provider for specific recommendations.
These are not all of the possible side effects of Symtuza. 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?
Other medicines may alter the blood levels of Symtuza 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 Symtuza. One of those tests is called an HIV viral load. This measures the amount of the HIV virus in your body. If you have never been treated for HIV, your viral load may be high. Taking Symtuza 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 Symtuza, your viral load should stay under control if you are taking it every day.
Is There Any Cost Assistance Available?
Yes. There is a 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 the type of insurance.
You can find out more at www.symtuza.com/financial-support.
For questions about cost, insurance coverage, or any other questions related to financial support, you can also contact Janssen CarePath at 866-836-0114.
