What does tenofovir alafenamide tablets/Veride treat?

Tenofovir alafenamide/viride (TAF) is a targeted prodrug of tenofovir that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016 as a once-daily treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adult patients with compensated liver disease. In 2022, the FDA approved tenofovir alafenamide fumarate tablets for the treatment of chronic HBV infection in pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with compensated liver disease. It is recommended as first-choice or first-line treatment according to guidelines.

Chronic hepatitis B can have significant and lasting effects on children's health. If left untreated, hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The active substance in tenofovir alafenamide tablets tenofovir alafenamide works by preventing hepatitis B virus from multiplying in the liver. It is converted in the body to its active compound, tenofovir, which blocks the activity of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme made by the hepatitis B virus, allowing it to multiply in infected cells.

Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate is available as 25 mg tablets to be taken by mouth with food (one tablet daily); patients usually take the drug for at least 6 to 12 months, and treatment may continue for several years. Clinical trials have shown that tenofovir alafenamide may be an effective treatment option, and its approval is supported by week 96 data from a Phase 2 clinical trial, which showed progressive increases in virological suppression throughout week 96 and in both study cohorts (children and adolescents). Therefore, in 2024, this drug was approved for the once-daily treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older, weighing at least 25 kg, and with compensated liver disease.