HIV

Gilead has long been a leading innovator in HIV treatment and prevention, helping transform HIV from an inevitably fatal condition to a chronic one that can be well managed. We also developed the first pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication to help prevent HIV transmission. We believe our continued research will one day lead to a cure – our passion for working to solve the problems of today drives us in everything we do.

To help end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere, we must optimize the tools we have today and continue bringing forward innovative new solutions to improve the care and experiences of those living with or affected by HIV. That is why Gilead continues to advance a varied pipeline of potential future therapy options with the aim of helping to address the diverse needs of all people affected by HIV, as we continue to search for a cure.

View our HIV R&D pipeline

HIV Treatment

Gilead researchers have developed some of the therapies that have led the way in the global response to HIV, including the first single tablet regimen.

Despite the progress we've made over more than three decades, addressing HIV remains a serious public health imperative around the world. Stigma associated with treatment persists in many communities, and there are new challenges to consider, as research advancements have enabled people to live with HIV as a manageable chronic condition. This includes common age-related conditions that may cause health complications, or impact whether and how an individual can take an HIV medication, and how they respond to it.

Ending the epidemic will require close partnership with the entire HIV community. Whether by researching how our medicines work in specific populations, or how innovative treatment strategies can drive more equitable and comprehensive access to HIV care, our goal is to bring forward effective therapy options to everyone who needs them.

HIV Prevention

Gilead introduced the first once-daily oral medication for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV transmission between sexual partners when taken as prescribed. Advancing the science behind PrEP and prevention strategies is a fundamental part of our efforts to help end the HIV epidemic.

We see innovation – both developing and expanding access to additional PrEP options – as an essential step toward increasing PrEP utilization.

To continue making progress in HIV prevention, Gilead is also partnering with the HIV community to help close gaps in prevention research for disproportionately impacted and underrepresented populations, with the goal of helping eliminate barriers to care.

Long-Acting Therapies

Continuous innovation is critical as we work toward ending the HIV epidemic. HIV treatment and prevention is entering a new era where more therapeutic options are emerging to meet the diverse needs and preferences of people living with HIV and those who could benefit from PrEP.

While the advent of once-daily single tablet regimens helped revolutionize care by simplifying dosing, some people face challenges with adherence due to limited treatment options or a complex regimen. In certain areas around the globe, taking daily pills may also be a stigmatizing burden.

Long-acting therapies are the next wave of innovation, with the potential to further transform HIV care by addressing these barriers and providing more flexible and accessible alternative options. We are advancing potential options for long-acting treatment and prevention, which we believe will be some of the most important tools yet in helping to end the epidemic.

The Path to Cure

Curing HIV remains the ultimate aspiration of Gilead’s research and development efforts. While HIV treatment has advanced dramatically over the past three decades, an estimated 38 million people living with HIV globally still face a lifetime of antiretroviral therapy (ART), which poses multiple challenges. Since the start of the epidemic, we’ve been pursuing potential pathways to achieve a “functional cure” – or long-term viral remission in the absence of ART – for people living with HIV. Our aim is to discover a therapy that can achieve durable, ART-free HIV remission without transmission or disease progression.

A multi-pronged approach is needed to achieve this goal. Currently, we’re focusing on therapeutic vaccines with the potential for combination therapy. The discovery and development of latency-reversing agents, immune modulators and genetically engineered effector antibodies are other areas of focus in our scientific research.

As we progress further with testing investigational, potentially curative regimens, our partnerships and collaborations are more important than ever in this complex scientific endeavor.

Going Beyond Medicine

We know it will take more than medicine alone to end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere. The social, cultural and structural barriers that exist in our world need to be addressed as part of global HIV elimination efforts.

Gilead has a long history of working alongside the HIV community to achieve more equitable access to HIV care and services. Our cutting-edge research programs center on the needs of people who are disproportionately impacted by HIV and traditionally underrepresented in studies. And through unique partnerships and access programs, we are working to improve HIV treatment and prevention education, support systems and policies that help facilitate broader uptake of medications, and eliminate stigma and other barriers to care.

Today, we are the largest private funder of non-profit HIV programs in the world and the United States. However, our work isn’t done until we have positively impacted the lives of all the people and communities impacted by HIV.