What is the difference between HIV treatments Odefsey and Complera?

Odefsey and Complera are both three-drug antiviral combinations containing emtricitabine, rilpivirine and tenofovir for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The difference between Odefsey and Complera is in the form of tenofovir contained in each product.

Odefsey contains a newer form of tenofovir called tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and Complera contains the original form of tenofovir as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

Tenofovir alafenamide is a prodrug of tenofovir and is inactive when it is first taken. After it enters the body, it is changed to its active form in the HIV-infected cell much more efficiently than TDF, which results in much lower levels of drug in the blood, but higher levels within the cells where HIV-1 replicates. Therefore, TAF can be given at roughly one-tenth the dose of TDF. Due to smaller doses and lower levels of tenofovir in the blood, kidney toxicity and decreased bone mineral density may be less of a concern with TAF, as noted by laboratory values in studies.

Odefsey and Complera are both manufactured by Gilead Sciences Inc.

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