What is DESCOVY for PrEP ?
- It is not for use in people assigned female at birth who are at risk of getting HIV from vaginal sex, because its effectiveness has not been studied.
- You must be
HIV-negative before and while takingDESCOVY for PrEP.
Talk to a healthcare provider to see if
The DISCOVER trial studied the efficacy and safety of DESCOVY for PrEP compared to TRUVADA®*
All study participants were either men who have sex with men or transgender women who have sex with men.
The DISCOVER trial recruited people who were among the most at risk for getting HIV through sex. The study included real people with diverse backgrounds and sexual practices who didn't always use condoms, and some participants had sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
*TRUVADA (emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) tablets.
Why does it matter if people in the study had an STI?
Because some STIs, like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis, can increase the risk of getting HIV. That's why your healthcare provider will test you regularly for STIs.
Everyone in the DISCOVER trial was tested regularly, so STIs were quickly identified and treated.
Find a testing location near youReal DESCOVY user
compensated by Gilead.
The DISCOVER trial included a broad range of people:
5000+ ADULT
PARTICIPANTS
94 STUDY SITES
11 COUNTRIES
People in the study had significant HIV risk prior to and during the study, including testing positive for other STIs.
Do not take DESCOVY for PrEP if you already have HIV-1 or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you have HIV-1, you need to take other medicines with DESCOVY to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only DESCOVY, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat now and in the future.
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99.7% of people taking DESCOVY for PrEP in the trial stayed HIV-negative
The DISCOVER trial showed that
The results were analyzed when everyone had been in the study for at least 2 years (~96 weeks). At that point:
8 out of 2670 people taking DESCOVY®
tested
99.7% on DESCOVY
stayed
15 out of 2665 people taking TRUVADA
tested
99.4% on TRUVADA
stayed
†1 of these 8 people was suspected to have HIV before the study began.
‡4 of these 15 people were suspected to have HIV before the study began.
17% of people in the study, or about 900 people, were taking TRUVADA just before the study began. Half of these people were switched to taking DESCOVY, and the other half continued to take TRUVADA during the study.§
Trial results were similar across subgroups of age, race, gender identity, and whether people were taking TRUVADA before the trial.
100% of people (459 people) who were taking TRUVADA before they entered the trial and began taking DESCOVY during the study remained
99.8% of people (438 people) who were taking TRUVADA before they entered the trial, and remained on TRUVADA, remained
§This planned analysis evaluated people who were taking TRUVADA before starting the study. It was not statistically designed to show a difference in efficacy between people who were switched to DESCOVY versus those who stayed on TRUVADA.
Common side effects in people taking DESCOVY for PrEP are diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
In the clinical study, PrEP medicines worked best when taken every day.
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DESCOVY for PrEP has less impact on bone and kidney health than TRUVADA
In the DISCOVER trial, DESCOVY had less impact on bone
mineral density (BMD) compared to TRUVADA.
Bone mineral density is a good gauge of bone health. For people taking DESCOVY in the DISCOVER trial, their bone health was less impacted, and they were better able to maintain BMD, compared to those taking TRUVADA.
Bone health is important and, for most people, our bones actually continue to grow into our 30s. So, whether your bones are still growing or you're more focused on maintaining their strength,
Compared to TRUVADA,
DESCOVY had less impact on BMD
at approximately 2 years (~96 weeks)
LUMBAR SPINE
DESCOVY
144 People
+1.0%
TRUVADA
140 People
-1.4%
HIP BONE
DESCOVY
140 People
+0.6%
TRUVADA
137 People
-1.0%
BMD is a key indicator of bone health. BMD was measured in study participants when they entered the study and again at 2 years from the start of the study.
The long-term significance of these changes in BMD is not known.
People who took DESCOVY experienced less impact on certain kidney lab tests than those who took TRUVADA
In people taking DESCOVY, kidney function was better maintained than in those taking TRUVADA as measured by laboratory tests.
Kidneys help keep you healthy by removing waste from your blood. That's why it's important to take care of them.
DESCOVY may cause new or worsening kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start and while taking DESCOVY. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking DESCOVY if you develop new or worse kidney problems.
Compared to TRUVADA,
DESCOVY had less impact on kidney function lab tests at approximately 2 years (~96 weeks)
DESCOVY
+3.7 mL/min eGFR
-0.4 mL/min eGFR TRUVADA
eGFR is one of the measurements that your healthcare provider may use to see how your kidneys are functioning. eGFR was measured in study participants when they entered the study and again at 2 years from the start of the study.
The long-term significance of these changes on the frequency of kidney side effects is not known.
Don’t have a healthcare provider?
Use the PrEP Locator to find a healthcare provider who has experience prescribing PrEP medication.
Find one hereReal DESCOVY user
compensated by Gilead.
