Living With HIV | RUKOBIA Official Website

Dennis, taking RUKOBIA as part of an HIV-1 regimen. Compensated by ViiV Healthcare.

For too long, people living with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 were seen as failures. In reality, they include a broad range of people whose HIV treatments may no longer be working for them for a variety of reasons.

Living With Multidrug-Resistant HIV-1

Meet James

“This is a lifetime journey. Therefore, we have to do
what’s necessary to take care of ourselves and others.”

A long-term survivor with HIV
Side effect challenges with previous treatments
Past adherence issues

VO: My name is James. I’m a pastor of a local church. And I’m a long-term survivor, uh, with HIV.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: James entering the Masonic.
VO: I first learned about my HIV diagnosis in the ‘80s. I went to my primary care doctor about it and, uh, while I was there he said, “James, I think you need to get an HIV test.” When I came back two weeks later, he informed me that I was HIV positive.
VIDEO: Video portrait, James sitting in chair.
SUPER: James, living with HIV. Compensated by ViiV Healthcare.
VO: I knew that if I admitted that I was HIV positive, at the same time I’d have to, uh, admit to the fact that I was gay. Friends that I thought, other pastors, I heard their statements that they made.
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera B.
VO: My whole life, really, had been in the church. I thought, here the place that I feel that they should embrace me and accept me, when it comes time and everybody begins to find out, they’ll begin to push away from me. I just chose just to go into a total period of denial. Instead of dealing with life on life’s terms, I used the drugs and the alcohol to escape.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: James alone at waterfront.VO: My experience with various treatment medications was really challenging. My basic challenges with medication adherence early on, uh, with my diagnosis was the tremendous amount of side effects that came with medications.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: ambient environment at waterfront.
VO: I had an incident with my youngest sister, she developed, uh, HIV. And uh, my mother called me and said, “We need to go and see your sister, uh, in the hospital.” But I stayed on the outside because, when I looked at her, I was looking at my own self. And so I said, “No, I’m not going in.”
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera B.
VO: Maybe about a year later, uh, my mother called me and she said, “We don’t think she’s going to live throughout the week.” And I went to the hospital and when I got to the door of her room, she said, “You weren’t here for me, get outta here.” It was a devastating time for me.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: Waterfront.
VO: And that, that was a turning point, you know, for me about being in denial. I began to realize that not only did I had to face what was going on with me, with HIV, I also had to do something about the drugs and the alcohol, too.
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera B.
VO: The first thing that I started doing was being adherent, uh, to the medications that were given to me. I was on three medications that I began to feel okay with, but, uh, after a while I discovered that those medications weren’t working for me.
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera A.
VO: Because of me not being adherent early on, I became resistant to certain medications. My T-cells were lessening and my viral load was replicating. And then, of course, the opportunistic infections began to happen.
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera B.
VO: It was really terrifying to me that I couldn’t take 10 steps and get my breath. When I went into the emergency room, one of the nurses, that’s a part of our congregation, she came to the ER, and, uh, she just said to me, “I’m here for you and it’s going to be okay.” And that was a first time that I had anybody to really, really genuinely let me know that they were there and I could trust them.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: James sipping coffee, contemplative gaze.
VO: Up until that time I wasn’t talking to anybody but the infectious disease team. VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: Café environment.
VO: After that was when I began to share with my mother and my brothers and my sisters. They said, “You’re our brother, whatever we need to do in order to help you.” I began to be relieved that, for so long, you think, “It’s just me. I’m here by myself.” And the reality is you were never by yourself.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: Calvin meets James in cafe.
VO: When I speak to people who are living with HIV, I say to them, I say, “You need to give yourself a chance.” You gotta be willing to share where you are and what’s going on with you with your doctor.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: James and Calvin walking at waterfront.
VO: This is a lifetime journey. And so therefore we gotta do what’s necessary to take care of ourselves and others.
VIDEO: B-Roll Footage: James and Calvin interacting at waterfront.
VO: The way I feel now with my diagnosis is that I have a great deal of hopefulness. I just have to keep positive, knowing that things are going to get better.
VIDEO: Video Portrait: James laughing.
VIDEO: ViiV LOGO.SUPERS: Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV

Meet Dennis

“I think what was so difficult about adherence in the beginning was I was still
dealing with the stigma. And also the side effects were intolerable.”

Past adherence issues
Resistance to multiple regimens
Side effect challenges with previous medications

Transcription

VO: What is RUKOBIA? RUKOBIA is a prescription medicine used with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 in adults who have received several anti-HIV-1 regimens in the past, and have HIV-1 virus that is resistant to many ARV medicines, and are failing their current ARV therapy because it is not working, are not able to tolerate the side effects, or have other safety concerns. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATIONDo not take RUKOBIA if you are allergic to fostemsavir or any of the ingredients in RUKOBIA. Do not take RUKOBIA if you take certain medicines, including those listed here. Please see additional Important Safety Information for RUKOBIA later in the video. Please use the link on this page to read the Patient Information for RUKOBIA.

VIDEO: Opens on Patient Indication and ISI; RUKOBIA logo; Countdown 1-15 secs, fades to black.
SUPER: Patient Indication, ISI, Please see line.
VO: My name is Dennis. I’m married. My husband and I live with our three rescue animals. I’m a heavily treatment-experienced person living with HIV. VIDEO: Start with black screen that fades in to reveal micro-shots of Dennis that gradually reveal who Dennis is. RUKOBIA logo.
SUPER: The testimonial in this video is from a person living with HIV-1 sharing his personal experience about his diagnosis and his treatment with RUKOBIA. Individual results may vary.
VO: I was diagnosed with HIV in 1991. When I first tested and got diagnosed, it was kind of a scary time. Back in those days it was still very much something that you shouldn’t be telling people. Something people thought you should be ashamed of.
VIDEO: B-Roll of Dennis staring into camera. RUKOBIA logo.
SUPER: Dennis, taking RUKOBIA as part of an HIV-1 regimen. Compensated by ViiV Healthcare.
VO: The first thing I thought when I got my diagnosis and I was walking home, I thought, “Okay. I can’t do this alone. I’m gonna need support.” And I mapped out the plan. I had to tell my best friend and told some of my friends on the East Coast.
VIDEO: B-Roll, Vineyard.
VO: I flew home and told my parents. I got nothing from my mother. But my dad walked me out to the car, told me he loved me, and gave me a hug.
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera A.
VO: I think what was so difficult with adherence in the beginning is, um, I was still feeling a little bit of stigma. And also, the side effects were sometimes intolerable. I started taking treatment more seriously when I came down with an AIDS-related illness.
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera B.
VO: It had been several days where I was knocked out. VIDEO: Dramatic cut to black.
VO: I came to in the hospital. I looked up, and I had a disco mirror ball installed above my bed. And then I looked around the room, and there were flowers everywhere. It was the friends that I have. They were the ones, you know, that were there, that, uh, would see me day in, day out.
VIDEO: Slowly fade in from black as “came to” VO plays, leaves of a tree gently move with the wind.
VO: I remember looking at myself in the mirror when I had gotten home from the hospital, and I said to myself, “If they can love you that much, then why can’t you love yourself?”
VIDEO: B-Roll, scenes of Dennis and friends at picnic.
VO: The challenges in the last, you know, I would say ten years, have always been when I started having treatment failure. And I’d say, “What’s out there for me to take?” They would be low points until I would talk to my doctor.
VIDEO: B-Roll, Tower Bridge.
VO: We would just switch to, um, another regimen. And then 12 months, 14 months, 18 months in, we would start seeing virus again in the blood.
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera A.
VO: I have resistance to multiple classes of medications, but I’ve never given up. I’m always looking for that next thing that can help me.
VIDEO: Macro-shots of Dennis’ hands/gestures.
VO: My viral load had, uh, been increasing. It was to the level where we didn’t want it. And so my doctor mentioned that there was a medication that could possibly benefit me. And finding out that there was a medication like RUKOBIA, my hope was, “Well, this is gonna work.”
VIDEO: Interview Footage–Camera B.
VO: RUKOBIA, in conjunction with the other antiretrovirals I’m taking, got me to undetectable. I maintained undetectable status and I’ve stayed there.
VIDEO: B-Roll, Tower Bridge.SUPER: Undetectable means reducing the HIV in the blood to very low levels. Individual results may vary.
VO: I’d like to tell people like me there are other options out there for you.
VIDEO: B-Roll, Tower Bridge.SUPER: In a clinical study of heavily treatment-experienced adults with HIV-1, 53% of the 272 people who took RUKOBIA with a tailored treatment regimen were undetectable after 24 weeks, and 60% were undetectable after 96 weeks. The most common side effect was nausea.
VO: If there’s problems with your treatment regimen, um, talk to your doctor. And don’t be afraid to ask them questions. Work with them to get on the regimen that works best for you.
VIDEO: B-Roll from Tower Bridge to overlap with beginning of VO. Sync up “There are other options...” with Interview Footage–Camera B.
VO: Your emotional support that you’re getting from friends or family is important. Because those are the people that can give you encouragement.
VIDEO: B-Roll, Vineyard.
VO: I have, uh, so many things to feel grateful for. I have a wonderful husband who loves and supports me, um, and I can love and support back. I remain confident and hope that I could continue living the life I have been.
VIDEO: End on hopeful shot of Dennis and Marcos walking through the vineyard.
VO: IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION, continued. What are the possible side effects of RUKOBIA? RUKOBIA can cause serious side effects, including changes in your immune system. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking RUKOBIA. RUKOBIA may cause a heart rhythm problem called QTc prolongation causing an irregular heartbeat. If you are elderly, you may be at greater risk. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, feel changes in your heartbeat, or you faint. People with HIV-1 who take RUKOBIA and who also have hepatitis B or C infections, may be more likely to develop new or worsening changes in certain liver function blood tests during treatment with RUKOBIA. If you stop taking your anti-hepatitis B treatment, this could mean that your hepatitis B may become active again. Take any anti-hepatitis B or anti-hepatitis C medicines as prescribed by your healthcare provider during treatment with RUKOBIA. The most common side effect of RUKOBIA is nausea. These are not all of the possible side effects of RUKOBIA. Call your doctor if you experience any side effects.
VIDEO: Fades to scrolling Patient ISI continued.
SUPERS: Patient ISI.
VO: Before taking RUKOBIA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have or have had a heart problem, including irregular heartbeat, liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if RUKOBIA will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during treatment with RUKOBIA or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take RUKOBIA. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, as some medicines interact with RUKOBIA. Tell your healthcare provider if you take birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol. Talk to your healthcare provider about which birth control pills may be right for you during treatment with RUKOBIA. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with RUKOBIA. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider.
VIDEO: Fades to scrolling Patient ISI continued.SUPERS: Patient ISI.
VO: How should I take RUKOBIA? Take RUKOBIA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. RUKOBIA should be taken whole; do not chew, crush, or split RUKOBIA tablets before swallowing.You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.Please read the Patient Information for RUKOBIA and discuss it with your healthcare provider.SUPERS: Patient ISI, Please see line.
VIDEO: RUKOBIA AND ViiV LOGOS.SUPERS: Please use the link on this page to view the Patient Information for RUKOBIA.

If your HIV-1 treatment is no longer able to effectively suppress your viral load, there could be several reasons why. Some of the reasons may include that you:

Have developed resistance to many treatment regimens*
Have been on many different treatment regimens in the past
Have experienced side effects and tolerability issues with past medicines
Have had, or are having, HIV treatments interact with other medicines
Have had interruptions in healthcare

In addition to a detectable viral load, staying on an HIV treatment regimen that has stopped working can leave you at risk, with:

A compromised immune system
Increased risk of transmitting HIV

*HIV can change form, or mutate, as it multiplies in the body. Some HIV mutations develop while a person is taking an HIV treatment and can lead to resistance. This means HIV treatments that once controlled a person’s HIV are not able to effectively control the virus.

Is RUKOBIA right for you?

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