bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs sofosbuvir/velpatasvir

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.6 Drugs without Clinically Significant Interactions with BIKTARVY Based on drug interaction studies conducted with BIKTARVY or the components of BIKTARVY, no clinically significant drug interactions have been observed when BIKTARVY is combined with the following drugs: ethinyl estradiol, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, midazolam, norgestimate, sertraline, sofosbuvir, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir.

Drug Class
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination
sofosbuvir/velpatasvir NS5B/NS5A Inhibitor (HCV)
Type
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir Prescription
sofosbuvir/velpatasvir Prescription
Summary
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Biktarvy is a complete HIV-1 treatment for adults and children who weigh at least 31 pounds. It combines three medicines into one tablet to help control the virus.

sofosbuvir/velpatasvir

Vosevi is a drug that combines three medicines into one tablet. It is used to treat hepatitis C in adults who have already tried other treatments.

What It Treats
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds. It can be used if you have never taken HIV medicine before. It can also replace your current HIV medicine if your virus is under control and you have no resistance to Biktarvy's components.

sofosbuvir/velpatasvir

Vosevi treats chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection in adults. It is for those without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). You can use it if you have genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 HCV. You must have already been treated with a hepatitis C medicine containing an NS5A inhibitor, or sofosbuvir without an NS5A inhibitor (for genotypes 1a or 3).

How It Works
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

Biktarvy contains three drugs that each block HIV in different ways. Bictegravir stops HIV from inserting its DNA into your cells. Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide interfere with an enzyme HIV needs to make copies of itself.

sofosbuvir/velpatasvir

Vosevi contains sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir. Sofosbuvir blocks a protein called NS5B polymerase that the hepatitis C virus needs to multiply. Velpatasvir blocks the NS5A protein, and voxilaprevir blocks the NS3/4A protease protein, both of which the virus also needs.

Common Side Effects
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Headache
sofosbuvir/velpatasvir
  • Headache
  • Fatigue (feeling tired)
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
FAERS Reports
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

No adverse event reports.

sofosbuvir/velpatasvir
  • Feeling tired 2,307
  • Hepatitis C infection 1,734
  • Headache 1,639
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,386
  • Low red blood cell count 1,185
Serious Warnings
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

If you have both HIV and hepatitis B, stopping Biktarvy can cause your hepatitis B to suddenly get worse. Your doctor will need to monitor your liver closely for several months after you stop taking Biktarvy. You may need to take medicine for hepatitis B.

sofosbuvir/velpatasvir

Vosevi can cause Hepatitis B to become active again if you have had it in the past. This can cause serious liver problems, including liver failure and death. Before starting Vosevi, your doctor will test you for Hepatitis B. They will also monitor you during and after treatment.

Pregnancy
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir

There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take Biktarvy during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Biktarvy if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. There is not enough data to assess the risk of major birth defects.

sofosbuvir/velpatasvir

It is not known if Vosevi can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Vosevi passes into breast milk, so discuss this with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir with

How to Read This bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs sofosbuvir/velpatasvir Comparison

bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir is classified in the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination drug class, while sofosbuvir/velpatasvir sits within the NS5B/NS5A Inhibitor (HCV) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir has 0 submissions while sofosbuvir/velpatasvir has 8,251. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to there are no known significant interactions between these two medications based on clinical research.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.