Gilead Announces Licensing Agreements with Eight India-Based Companies for Manufacturing and Distribution of Generic Versions Of Viread in the Developing World

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2006--Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) today announced that the company has signed eight new non-exclusive license agreements with generic companies in India. These licensing agreements grant to Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., FDC Ltd., J.B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Matrix Laboratories Ltd., Medchem International, Ranbaxy Laboratories and Shasun Chemicals & Drugs Ltd. the rights to produce and distribute generic versions of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF) to 95 low-income countries around the world, including India. Tenofovir DF is sold by Gilead under the brand name Viread(R).

The license agreements require that the generic companies meet certain national and international regulatory standards and include a technology transfer to enable expeditious production of large volumes of high-quality generic versions of tenofovir DF. In addition, these agreements allow the manufacture of commercial quantities of both active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and finished product. In August, Gilead announced similar agreements with India-based Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Hetero Drugs Ltd. and Strides Arcolab Ltd.

"We are pleased to have established agreements with eight additional India-based manufacturers, further expanding capacity for production and distribution in India and in other developing world countries," said John C. Martin, PhD, President and CEO of Gilead Sciences. "We hope that these agreements will expedite access to therapy for patients in resource-limited parts of the world where the HIV epidemic has hit the hardest."

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. The company's mission is to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead has operations in North America, Europe and Australia. For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company's website at www.gilead.com.

Viread is a registered trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.

CONTACT: Gilead Sciences, Inc. Susan Hubbard, 650-522-5715 (Investors) Amy Flood, 650-522-5643 (Media) SOURCE: Gilead Sciences, Inc.