FDA approves two combination pills, Epzicom and Truvada; comment on ...
On August 2, 2004, the U.S. FDA approved once-daily combination antiretroviral pills from two companies: GlaxoSmithKline's Epzicom (Ziagen [abacavir] + Epivir [3TC]), and Gilead Sciences' Truvada ([Viread [tenofovir] + Emtriva [FTC]). Both are taken once a day, combined with other antiretrovirals NOT part of the nucleoside/nucleotide class. Truvada was given accelerated approval (which means that Gilead must complete additional work) because approval was based in part on clinical trials of Viread with 3TC--a drug similar to FTC but not the same. Epzicom received final approval on August 2.