Generic Name: tenofovir alafenamide

Pronunciation: N/A

Abbreviation: TAF

Other Market Name: N/A

Drug Class: Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

Company: Gilead Sciences

Approval Status: Approved

Generic Version Available: No

Experimental Code: GS-7340

Drug Indication

FDA-approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in adults with compensated liver disease. 

General Info

  • Vemlidy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by adults with chronic hepatitis B on November 10, 2016.
  • In clinical studies, up to 94 percent of participants had reduction in hepatitis B viral load to less than 29 IU/ml after 48 weeks of therapy.

Dosage

Adult Dose: One 25 mg tablet daily, with food. No dosage adjustment needed for people with kidney disease.

Pediatric Dose: N/A

Dosing Info: Treatment length is indefinite and depends on clinical outcomes. Do not change your dose or stop taking Vemlidy without talking to your medical provider.

Side Effects

  • In clinical trials, the most common reported side effects were headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, cough, nausea, and back pain.
  • Vemlidy may cause a serious condition called lactic acidosis (buildup of acid in the blood) and severe hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) with steatosis (fat in the liver). Fatal cases have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogs.
  • New or worsening of kidney disease many occur. Assessment of kidney function is recommended before starting Vemlidy and during therapy as clinically appropriate.

Drug Interactions

  • For a review of drug interactions, including prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements that should not be taken with Vemlidy or may require dose adjustments, consult the Vemlidy pakcage insert.

Other Info

  • HIV testing is recommended prior to taking Vemlidy.
  • There are no adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women who have taken Vemlidy. Viread should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to Vemlidy during pregnancy at 1-800-258-4263.
  • The safety of breast feeding while taking Vemlidy has not been established.

For More Info: https://www.vemlidy.com

Co-Pay Program Info: https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-b-basics/paying-hepatitis-b-treatment

Patient Assistance Program Info: https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-b-basics/paying-hepatitis-b-treatment

Last Reviewed: December 22, 2021