Truvada Vs Descovy as PrEP

Truvada is simply a brand name developed and owned by Gilead Health. Truvada contains two anti-HIV drugs; tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC). It is a small pill that can be taken daily or as PrEP on demand. It’s 99% effective at preventing HIV when taken correctly.

While the frequency of side effects from this PrEP medicine is very low in users (1-10%), the TDF ingredient in Truvada can affect bone and kidney health. As a result, individuals who have pre-existing bone and kidney health conditions are not recommended to use Truvada.

Name-brand Truvada is approved for use in Canada but is not covered by provincial health plans. As a result, out-of-pocket costs, even with private health insurance, can be as much as $800 per month.

This high cost is why Freddie focuses on offering affordable alternatives instead, like generic Truvada and a lower side-effect option like Descovy.

Generic Truvada, or “generic PrEP,” shares many similarities with name-brand Truvada, but Gilead does not develop it. Most generic PrEP is manufactured by Apotex, Pharmascience, and JAMP.

While the manufacturers can differ, the active ingredients in generic Truvada are the same as name-brand Truvada, meaning generic Truvada is just as effective (99%). Like name-brand Truvada, generic Truvada can be taken daily or as PrEP on-demand.

Because a single company does not have 100% control over generic Truvada’s production, other manufacturers can make the medication and drive down the price. This increase in options leads to generic Truvada being the version of PrEP accessible to most patients.

In Canada, most provincial plans completely cover or subside generic Truvada. This drastically cuts down the already low $250/month out-of-pocket cost for users.

90% of Freddie patients get PrEP for $0. Take our 1-minute PrEP cost calculator to see how much PrEP would cost you.

Gilead created Descovy to combat the potential negative effects Truvada may have on kidney and bone health. This pharmaceutical improvement was achieved through the development of a new formulation of tenofovir called TAF (tenofovir alafenamide). Descovy, like name-brand Truvada, remains on patent and is exclusively manufactured by Gilead.

Unlike Truvada, Descovy has not been approved for those assigned female-at-birth (AFAB) and are at risk for HIV through vaginal/frontal sex or for those who inject drugs.

Descovy can only be prescribed as daily PrEP and has not been approved to be taken as PrEP on-demand. When taken correctly, Descovy is just as effective at preventing HIV (99%) as Truvada.

Descovy is not covered by provincial health insurance in Canada, and out-of-pocket costs are at least $1,000 per month. However, in some provinces, patients with pre-existing conditions can be prescribed Descovy for little to no cost through public insurance.

If you have private insurance, you likely have coverage for Descovy. The vast majority of Freddie patients with private insurance get Descovy for $0. Take our 1-minute PrEP cost calculator to see if you qualify for free Descovy today.