12th World Aids Conference To Be Broadcast On World Wide Web

Foster City, CA -- June 15, 1998

People with HIV disease and healthcare professionals from around the world will be able to view actual sessions from the 12th World AIDS Conference via the World Wide Web (WWW), according to organizers of this global meeting. The Webcast (webcast.aids98.org) will be available any time, day or night, and will contain the presenters' voices along with their slides. Each day of the six-day Conference (June 28 Ð July 3) will have up to 50 new presentations together with a summary of daily highlights.

"For the first time, thousands of people who are passionately interested in new aspects of AIDS research, but unable to travel to the Conference, will be able to participate in the meeting," said Dr. Bernard Hirschel, Chair of the 12th World AIDS Conference. "We hope that this unprecedented global sharing of knowledge will stimulate new thinking in the battle against HIV disease."

Speaking on behalf of the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations, a co-organizer of the 12th World AIDS Conference, Mr. Richard Burzynski said, "Community-based organizations (CBOs), providing care and support to millions of people living with HIV around the world, need to continue initiating more effective programs and policies which make a difference in people's lives. The provision of information on the WWW is an additional resource for many of these groups and the people they serve. I believe that the organizers of the 12th World AIDS Conference have made a major step forward in attempting to take conference messages directly to audiences. This is a pioneering project and one which I hope will be established as a benchmark for all other conference organizers."

The World AIDS Conference takes place once every two years and is the largest international HIV/AIDS forum for sharing new clinical, scientific and social data. More than 10,000 delegates are expected to attend this year's Geneva meeting including scientists, physicians and other healthcare professionals, people with HIV/AIDS, representatives of community groups and social workers. In contrast to other types of media coverage, the Webcast format provides direct access to Conference presentations.

All selected presentations will be available for review online within eight hours of their initial public viewing in Geneva. In addition, daily summaries of the entire Conference will be available for review and print. The Webcast service will be available at the internet address: webcast.aids98.org and will be operational for the duration of the Conference and until December 31, 1999.

The Webcast is made possible by the financial sponsorship of Gilead Sciences, Inc., an independent biopharmaceutical company located in Foster City, California, USA. "We are very pleased to be able to support this pioneering project," said John C. Martin, Ph.D., Gilead's President and CEO. "By providing timely worldwide access to the comprehensive information presented at the Conference, the Webcast will make a significant contribution to the knowledge base of all who are involved in the global fight against HIV."

Gilead Sciences is an independent biopharmaceutical company that seeks to provide accelerated solutions for patients and the people who care for them. The Company discovers, develops and commercializes proprietary therapeutics for important viral diseases, including a currently marketed product for the treatment of CMV retinitis, a sight-threatening viral infection in patients with AIDS. In addition, the Company is developing products to treat diseases caused by HIV, hepatitis B virus and influenza virus. Gilead common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol GILD.

The Webcast service provider is MediTech Media Ltd., a medical communications agency with offices in London, Atlanta, Munich and Singapore. MediTech Media Ltd. specializes in the provision of innovative technological solutions to communications requirements in the healthcare field.

Members of the press can find detailed information and graphics regarding the Webcast at the following location: www.webcast.aids98.org/presspack/.

For further information on how to access the Webcast or its features, please contact:

Laurie Hurley
Tel:+1 650 573 4894
Fax: +1 650 573 4853
Freephone: 1-800-GILEAD-5

Rachelle Galloway or Justin Drew
MediTech Media Ltd. (USA)
Fax: +1 404 233 2827
Tel: +1 404 233 6446
2989 Piedmont Road
Atlanta,GA 30305
USA

Susan Hubbard
Tel:+1 650 573 4715
Fax: +1 650 573 4853
Freephone: 1-800-GILEAD-5
Gilead Sciences
333 Lakeside Drive
Foster City,CA 94404
USA

BACKGROUND NOTES

How to Access the Webcast of the 12th World AIDS Conference

webcast.aids98.org

Anyone with a computer (PC or Macintosh) and connection to the internet can access the Webcast of the 12th World AIDS Conference.

What computer hardware do I need?

Minimum computer hardware requirements to access the webcast are: Personal Computer (PC)

• IBM PC compatible (Pentium recommended)

• MB of RAM and 40 to 70 MB of free hard disk space if installing Internet Explorer 4 as your browser (recommended)

• K modem (56 K modem or ISDN line preferred); (14 K modem allows audio stream only)

• Sound card and speakers

Macintosh

• PowerPC or Quadra

• 16MB of RAM and 40 to 70 MB of free hard disk space if installing Internet Explorer 4 as your browser (recommended).

• K modem (56 K modem or ISDN line preferred); (14K modem allows audio stream only)

• Sound card and speakers

What software do I need?

• A web browser. Any browser will function although Internet Explorer 4 or Netscape Navigator 4 are optimal. Note that the latest versions of these browsers are available free of charge for download and installation from webcast.aids98.org.

• RealPlayerª streaming software. Note that this software is available free of charge for download and installation from webcast.aids98.org.

Customized Web browser for webcast.aids98.org

The sponsor of the 12th World AIDS Conference webcast, Gilead Sciences, has developed a customized version of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 which users can simply install on their computers. This browser is set up to connect with webcast.aids98.org on opening, making access to the webcast both simple and rapid. The browser is accompanied by comprehensive guidelines for its simple installation and is available free of charge from Gilead Sciences, Inc. If you would like to request a webcast-customized browser, please contact:

Justin Drew
MediTech Media Ltd. (USA)
Telephone: +1 404 836 2186
Fax: +1 404 233 2827
email: justin@meditech-media.com

What if I need help?Users requiring technical assistance relating to webcast.aids98.org should phone the Webcast Help Desk located in the U.S.A.: +1 404-836-2186

Dates and hours of operation:
June 28 - July 3, 1998 (during the Conference): 24-hour service
June 1 - June 28, 1998 (one month prior to the Conference)
July 4 - July 31, 1998 (one month post Conference): 4:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. U.S.A. E.S.T.

For further information, please contact:

Laurie Hurley
Tel:+1 650 573 4894
Fax: +1 650 573 4853
Freephone: 1-800-GILEAD-5

Rachelle Galloway or Justin Drew
MediTech Media Ltd. (USA)
Fax: +1 404 233 2827
Tel: +1 404 233 6446
2989 Piedmont Road
Atlanta,GA 30305
USA

Susan Hubbard
Tel:+1 650 573 4715
Fax: +1 650 573 4853
Freephone: 1-800-GILEAD-5
Gilead Sciences
333 Lakeside Drive
Foster City,CA 94404
USA