It was developed by Gilead Sciences based on the protide technology of Chris McGuigan and is applied in the form of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF).

Closely related to the commonly used reverse-transcriptase inhibitor tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), TAF has greater antiviral activity and better distribution into lymphoid tissues than that agent.

[12] Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved tenofovir alafenamide for manufacture as a generic medication,[13] it is not available.

Gilead announced a Phase III clinical trial evaluating a single-tablet regimen combining tenofovir alafenamide with cobicistat, emtricitabine and elvitegravir[44] and developed a coformulation of the drug with cobicistat, emtricitabine and the protease inhibitor darunavir.

[45][46][47] In a 48-week study comparing elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (Stribild) to elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (Genvoya), the results showed the newer drug's effects to be non-inferior to the established agent, but at much lower dosages and with lower incidence of adverse side effects such as impaired kidney function.