Tenofovir: quo vadis anno 2012 (where is it going in the year 2012)?

Twenty years after its original discovery, tenofovir has acquired a crucial position in the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). First, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is not only efficacious against, and has been licensed for the treatment of HIV (AIDS), but also HBV (hepatitis B). Second, for the treatment of HIV infections, TDF can be used in combination with other anti-HIV drugs, such as emtricitabine (combination termed Truvada(®)) and Truvada can be further combined with efavirenz, rilpivirine, elvitegravir, atazanavir, or darunavir, as a single once-daily oral pill. Third, Truvada can be used prophylactically to prevent transmission of HIV infection. And fourth, to prevent sexual HIV transmission, tenofovir could also be used topically (i.e., as a vaginal gel).