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Tenofovir/Emtricitabine
Tenofovir and emtricitabine are nucleotide/nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that block HIV replication by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for converting viral RNA into DNA.
Tenofovir 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 (treatment), HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
At a glance
| Generic name | Tenofovir/Emtricitabine |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Truvada, Truvada® |
| Sponsor | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
| Drug class | Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI/NtRTI) combination |
| Target | HIV reverse transcriptase |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease / Virology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Tenofovir (a nucleotide analog) and emtricitabine (a nucleoside analog) both target HIV reverse transcriptase, preventing the virus from synthesizing DNA copies of its RNA genome. This combination is used as part of antiretroviral therapy to suppress viral replication and reduce HIV transmission. The fixed-dose combination improves adherence by reducing pill burden.
Approved indications
- HIV-1 infection (treatment)
- HIV-1 pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Lactic acidosis (rare but serious)
- Renal impairment (tenofovir-associated)
Key clinical trials
- Spotting Syphilis: A Dual Point-of-Care Syphilis Screening Initiative in a Low-Resource Healthcare Setting (NA)
- A Clinical Study of Islatravir and Ulonivirine for People With HIV-1 Who Have Not Been Treated Before (MK-8591B-062) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Switch to Doravirine/Islatravir (DOR/ISL) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) Participants Treated With Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) (MK-8591A-018) (PHASE3)
- ImPrEP LEN Brasil: Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention (NA)
- Study of Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide Fixed Dose Combination in Adolescents and Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- A Study of MK-8527 to Prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) (MK-8527-010) (PHASE3)
- Study of Cobicistat-Boosted Atazanavir (ATV/co), Cobicistat-Boosted Darunavir (DRV/co) and Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide (F/TAF) in Children With HIV (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- A Clinical Study of MK-8527 to Prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) (MK-8527-011) (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Tenofovir/Emtricitabine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Tenofovir/Emtricitabine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Bristol-Myers Squibb portfolio CI