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Counterfeit Versions of Biktarvy and Descovy Found in Pharmacies
The bottles have a counterfeit foil seal or label and contain an incorrect number of tablets.
Gilead Sciences has issued a warning about tampered and counterfeit versions of two of its HIV products, Biktarvy (bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide), a once-daily treatment pill, and Descovy, a PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis) pill that is a combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide.
The counterfeit products have been found in pharmacies along with the genuine products. Gilead has notified pharmacies that have been impacted and urged them to only work with distributors authorized by Gilead. A list of authorized distributors can be found here.
Merdad Parsey, M.D., Ph.D.
Company officials note:
- Authentic Biktarvy tablets are purplish-brown, capsule-shaped pills with “9883” on one side and “GSI” on the other.
- Authentic Descovy tablets are blue, rectangular pills with “225” on one side and “GSI” on the other.
- FDA requires that Biktarvy and Descovy be dispensed in their original packaging. The medications are supposed to be dispensed in white plastic bottles with white caps that hold 30 pills with labels that clearly identify them as a Gilead product.
“The safety of individuals taking Gilead medication is always our first priority,” Merdad Parsey, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of Gilead Sciences, said in a statement. “We are taking aggressive action to ensure that healthcare providers and people who rely on our medicines can confidently distinguish authentic Gilead products from counterfeit drugs.”
