Are fluorinated drugs PFAS?

By Brianna Barbu | c&en | August 21, 2024

Read the full article by Brianna Barbu (c&en)

"A drug called lenacapavir, an anti-HIV medicine produced by Gilead Sciences, made news this summer after a Phase 3 clinical trial of 5,300 women in Uganda and South Africa found that it was 100% effective at preventing infection. Patients receive the treatment as a shot every 6 months—much more convenient than a daily pill. It is, by all accounts, a lifesaving molecule.

It could also be considered a member of the PFAS family, according to some definitions.

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are infamous “forever chemicals,” typically bearing long carbon chains completely bedecked with fluorine atoms. Thousands of these compounds are used in a vast range of products, including surfactants, nonstick and waterproof coatings, and firefighting foam. Though PFAS are highly effective in these applications, they have an unfortunate habit of persisting and accumulating in the environment. Some have been linked to negative health effects such as decreased immune responses, developmental problems, and cancer."