Last reviewed 2026-05-13 · How we verify

tenofovir disproxil fumarate/emtricitabine

tenofovir disproxil fumarate/emtricitabine is a Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor combination Small molecule drug developed by Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally for HIV/AIDS and Other Infections. It is currently FDA-approved for HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced adults, HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in at-risk individuals. Also known as: TDF, FTC.

Tenofovir disproxil fumarate and emtricitabine are nucleotide/nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that block HIV replication by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for converting viral RNA into DNA.

Tenofovir disproxil fumarate and emtricitabine are nucleotide/nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that block HIV replication by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for converting viral RNA into DNA. Used for HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced adults, HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in at-risk individuals.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Tenofovir disproxil fumarate (TDF) is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor that is phosphorylated intracellularly to its active form, which competes with natural nucleotides and causes chain termination during HIV reverse transcription. Emtricitabine (FTC) is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor with a similar mechanism. Together, this fixed-dose combination provides dual inhibition of reverse transcriptase, reducing viral replication and delaying the emergence of drug-resistant strains.

Approved indications

• HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced adults
• HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in at-risk individuals

Common side effects

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Renal impairment (with TDF)
• Bone density loss (with TDF)

Key clinical trials

• Oral ISL QM as PrEP in Cisgender Women at High Risk for HIV-1 Infection (MK-8591-022) (PHASE3)
• Doravirine for Obese Persons on Integrase Inhibitors and Tenofovir Alafenamide (PHASE4)
• Bone Mineral Density Substudy - An Ancillary Study to MTN-003
• Safety and Effectiveness of TFV 1% Gel, TDF Tablets, and FTC/TDF Tablets in Preventing HIV in Women (PHASE2)
• Demonstration Project of PrEP Among Female Sex Workers in Dakar, Senegal (NA)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• tenofovir disproxil fumarate/emtricitabine CI brief — competitive landscape report
• tenofovir disproxil fumarate/emtricitabine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally for HIV/AIDS and Other Infections portfolio CI

Frequently asked questions about tenofovir disproxil fumarate/emtricitabine

Related

• Drug class: All Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor combination drugs
• Target: All drugs targeting HIV reverse transcriptase
• Manufacturer: Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally for HIV/AIDS and Other Infections — full pipeline
• Therapeutic area: All drugs in Infectious Disease / Virology
• Indication: Drugs for HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced adults
• Indication: Drugs for HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in at-risk individuals
• Also known as: TDF, FTC
• Compare: tenofovir disproxil fumarate/emtricitabine vs similar drugs
• Pricing: tenofovir disproxil fumarate/emtricitabine cost, discount & access