Gilead collaborates with a global network of manufacturers and distributors to ensure adequate supplies of our products worldwide. These partnerships support global distribution of both branded and generic versions of Gilead's HIV medicines, and coordinate regulatory and medical education efforts. In addition, Gilead has joined with the Medicines Patent Pool to expand access to antiretroviral therapies in the developing world.

Branded Distribution

Gilead has established drug manufacturing partnerships with organizations in the Bahamas (PharmaChem Technologies and the Grand Bahama Port Authority) and South Africa (Aspen Pharmacare). These agreements increase manufacturing capacity for our HIV medicines, and improve delivery efficiency, since the medicines are produced in or near the markets where they are needed most.

A global network of 11 distribution partners and 48 sub-distributors ensures that Gilead's medicines reach patients securely and efficiently. Gilead's distribution partners also leverage their knowledge of local systems to help register the products, manage on-the-ground logistics and assist with medical education and training initiatives.

Generic Licensing

Gilead has entered into non-exclusive licensing agreements with South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare and 12 pharmaceutical companies in India to manufacture and distribute generic versions of Viread and Truvada in up to 112 resource-limited countries.

Gilead provides each partner with a full technology transfer, so they have been able to quickly scale up generic production of our antiretrovirals in line with international quality standards. Of the 2.1 million developing-world patients currently using a Viread®-containing regimen, 95 percent are using a high-quality generic version of the medicine.

Medicines Patent Pool

In July 2011, Gilead signed an agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool, an organization that was established by the United Nations to increase global access to high-quality, low-cost antiretroviral therapy through the sharing of patents.

Gilead has granted the Pool licenses to manufacture and distribute generic versions of our antiretrovirals in the developing world. The Pool can in turn sub-license these rights to pharmaceutical manufacturers based in India who specialize in high-quality production of generic medicines. Sub-licensees through the Pool will be free to develop combination products and pediatric formulations of our HIV medicines.