Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (a prodrug of tenofovir), belongs to a class of antiretroviral drugs known as nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nRTIs), Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate block reverse transcriptase, an enzyme crucial to viral production in HIV-infected people. In vivo tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is converted to tenofovir, an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (nucleotide) analog of adenosine 5'-monophosphate
Tenofovir disoproxil is an antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and to treat chronic hepatitis B. The active substance is tenofovir, while tenofovir disoproxil is a prodrug that is used because of its better absorption in the gut.
The drug is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system. It is marketed by Gilead Sciences under the trade name Viread(as the fumarate, TDF). As of 2015 the cost for a typical month of medication in the United States is more than 200 USD.