Can Descovy be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV?
Yes. The FDA approved Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection in October 2019.
What is PrEP?
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is an HIV prevention method in which people who do not have HIV take medicine on a daily basis to reduce their risk of getting HIV if they are exposed to the virus.
What is Descovy?
Descovy is a combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide which are both both HIV nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Descovy was first approved by the FDA for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in 2016.
- Descovy is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds (25 kg).
- Descovy is used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in at-risk, adult and adolescent HIV-negative men and transgender women (≥35 kg) .
Descovy for PrEP is not for use in people born female (assigned female at birth) who are at risk of HIV-1 infection from vaginal sex, because its effectiveness has not been studied.
Descovy is an oral tablet taken once daily with or without food.
Descovy is the second medicine approved for PrEP, after the approval of Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) in 2012.
Read next
Who are the actors in the Descovy commercial?
The actors that feature in the Descovy commercial “Prep Up”, released on January 27, 2020, are Christopher Rivas, Hailie Sahar, Vladimir Versailles, Trevor La Paglia, and Michael Cory Davis. Continue reading
Apretude vs Descovy: How do they compare?
Apretude (cabotegravir) and Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) are both effective options for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but they differ in how they are taken, dosing frequency, and side effects. In addition to PrEP, Descovy may also be taken to treat HIV-1 infection. Continue reading
How do I get a Descovy copay card and save on costs?
You can get a Descovy copay card by signing up for the Gilead Advancing Access Program online or by calling 1-800-226-2056. If you have commercial insurance you may be eligible to save up to $7,200 per calendar year on your prescription copay with no monthly limit. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Descovy Information for Consumers
- Descovy prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Descovy (detailed)
- Descovy user reviews (21)
Related support groups
- Descovy (7 questions, 5 members)
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