Gilead and the Elton John AIDS Foundation Announce Additional Five Years of RADIAN Partnership to Help Address the Growing HIV Crisis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Rhea-AI Summary

Gilead Sciences (GILD) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation have extended their RADIAN partnership for five more years, investing $25 million to address the growing HIV crisis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). The initiative aims to support local organizations and expand its geographic focus to help communities impacted by the Ukraine conflict. RADIAN has already reached over 271,000 people with HIV services and provided more than 114,000 HIV tests since 2019. The partnership will continue to tackle structural drivers of the epidemic, strengthen HIV health systems, and enhance local organizations' capacities. It will also introduce an innovation fund to support creative solutions in the region.

Positive

• Extended partnership with $25 million investment over 5 years
• Expansion of geographic focus to include countries hosting Ukrainian refugees
• Introduction of an innovation fund for creative HIV response solutions
• Reached over 271,000 people with HIV services since 2019
• Provided more than 114,000 HIV tests since 2019

Negative

• HIV epidemic in EECA region is worsening, with new diagnoses up 20% since 2010
• 41% of people with HIV in EECA are unaware of their status
• 50% of people with HIV in EECA are not on treatment

Insights

Financial Analyst

Gilead's extension of the RADIAN partnership reflects its enduring commitment to addressing pressing health crises in regions with significant HIV challenges. This five-year, $25 million investment signals a robust allocation of resources towards a strategic cause, likely to bolster Gilead's reputation and stakeholder trust. The extension could enhance Gilead's market positioning in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), a region where HIV rates are alarmingly high.

For investors, this development showcases Gilead's proactive approach in managing corporate social responsibility while potentially opening up new avenues for market penetration. The extension might not directly impact short-term financials but demonstrates long-term operational foresight and ethical alignment, factors that can uplift investor sentiment and share value over time.

Medical Research Analyst

The RADIAN partnership's expansion is important in addressing the escalating HIV crisis in the EECA region. The initiative's focus on training frontline workers, improving HIV testing and expanding antiretroviral therapy is aligned with global health targets but tailored to local needs. The initiative's reach, impacting over 271,000 people, underscores the potential for significant public health outcomes.

From a medical research perspective, these efforts can catalyze data collection and innovation in HIV treatment strategies, particularly in conflict-impacted and underserved areas. The introduction of an innovation fund within RADIAN further supports the development of creative solutions, which could lead to breakthroughs in HIV care and management, benefiting both the local populations and global health knowledge.

Market Research Analyst

Gilead's increased involvement in the EECA region through the RADIAN partnership reflects a strategic expansion into geographies facing significant health challenges. The extension and the allocation of $25 million enhance Gilead's global footprint and align with its mission to address life-threatening diseases globally. This move could improve Gilead's brand equity and foster goodwill, particularly among socially conscious investors.

For the market, Gilead's actions could set a precedent for other pharmaceutical companies, highlighting the importance of corporate social responsibility in emerging markets. The geographic expansion into areas hosting Ukrainian refugees adds a layer of humanitarian response, showcasing Gilead's adaptability and commitment to addressing emergent health crises. This strategic positioning is likely to increase investor confidence in Gilead's long-term stability and ethical governance.

– RADIAN’s Five-Year, $25 Million Extension Will Increase Support for Local Organizations and Drive Progress to Help Turn the Tide on HIV Across the Region –

– RADIAN Will Expand Geographic Focus to Provide Key Populations and Communities Impacted by the Conflict in Ukraine with HIV Prevention and Care Services –

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) today announced a five-year extension of the RADIAN^® partnership to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) where the HIV epidemic is growing. RADIAN will continue supporting the initiatives of trusted, grassroots organizations who are working to address HIV-related challenges in the region.

Anne Aslett (CEO, Elton John AIDS Foundation) and Daniel O'Day (Chairman and CEO, Gilead Sciences) visit RADIAN Model City in Kazakhstan. (Photo: Business Wire)

While HIV is declining globally, EECA is one of the few regions in the world where the epidemic is getting worse, with new HIV diagnoses and AIDS-related deaths increasing by 20% and 34%, respectively, since 2010.¹ Of the 2.1 million people in EECA living with HIV, 41% are not aware of their HIV status and 50% are not on treatment – way below global 95-95-95-95 targets.¹

“We are committed to ensuring that the EECA region is not left behind because ending the HIV epidemic means ending it for everyone, everywhere,” said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. “During a recent visit to Kazakhstan, I met with RADIAN-supported community leaders who emphasized the importance of doubling down on our collaborative efforts. Over the next five years, RADIAN 2.0 will continue to address the structural drivers of the epidemic, strengthen HIV health systems, and enhance the capacities of local organizations for lasting impact.”

Since RADIAN was launched in 2019 it has had a significant impact on the HIV response in the region, reaching more than 271,000 people with HIV services, providing over 114,000 HIV tests, (re-) initiating over 26,500 people on antiretroviral therapy, and training more than 14,000 frontline workers to reduce stigma and discrimination.² These efforts are having an impact on communities most in need, however the situation in the region has escalated dramatically in recent years with the conflict in Ukraine further exacerbating the crisis.³ Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, human rights violations, stigma and discrimination are also hindering the HIV response across the region.⁴

“At the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we have a long history of supporting people living with or at risk of HIV across Eastern Europe and Central Asia – a region too often overlooked in the global HIV response. Because of insufficient access to HIV testing and effective treatment, 384 people newly acquire HIV every day in EECA and 120 people die of AIDS-related causes,” said Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.¹ “We are incredibly proud of our RADIAN partnership with Gilead Sciences, which is genuinely helping to turn the tide on the HIV epidemic in the region. Over the next few years, RADIAN will continue to help meet the needs of people most affected by HIV in EECA through innovative, scalable solutions and we are incredibly grateful to our resilient and determined local partners who share our ambition of leaving nobody behind.”

Over the next five years, RADIAN will extend its efforts to support collaborative, community-based initiatives to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable key populations across EECA, including people who use drugs, men who have sex with men, sex workers and Transgender people.

RADIAN will also expand its geographic reach to include countries hosting refugees fleeing Ukraine, including Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Germany, where there is an acute need for additional HIV services. Language barriers, social isolation and internalized stigma are all greatly hindering the ability of refugees living with or at risk of HIV to access the treatment and care they urgently need.⁵ RADIAN’s geographic expansion will provide more support to these vulnerable communities, improving access to HIV services and supporting their mental and social wellbeing.

RADIAN will continue to build on successes and learnings from the first five years of the partnership to help close gaps in HIV testing, prevention and care. Additionally, to support innovations that increase the effectiveness of the HIV response in EECA, RADIAN will introduce an innovation fund. The fund will accept creative applications on a rolling basis to allow for flexibility of funding opportunities as innovations emerge.

About RADIAN

RADIAN is a ground-breaking partnership between Gilead Sciences and the Elton John AIDS Foundation that supports grassroots organizations and partners in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) to meaningfully address the HIV-related challenges in the region. By supporting the delivery of community-based services and health systems, and by addressing structural barriers impeding the HIV response, RADIAN helps address the needs of key populations and marginalized communities – including people who use drugs, men who have sex with men, sex workers and Transgender people. RADIAN works closely with local leaders and community partners – RADIAN Changemakers and grantees – who are committed to creating change in the region through on-the-ground initiatives tackling the unique challenges of the HIV epidemic in EECA.

To learn more about how RADIAN is working to end HIV in EECA, visit www.radianhiv.org.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

For 35 years, Gilead has been a leading innovator in the field of HIV, driving advances in treatment, prevention and cure research. Gilead researchers have developed 12 HIV medications, including the first single-tablet regimen to treat HIV, the first antiretroviral for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help reduce new HIV infections, and the first long-acting injectable HIV treatment medication administered twice-yearly. Our advances in medical research have helped to transform HIV into a treatable, preventable, chronic condition for millions of people.

For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com.

About Elton John AIDS Foundation

The Elton John AIDS Foundation was established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent AIDS organizations in the world. The Foundation's mission is simple: an end to the AIDS epidemic. The Elton John AIDS Foundation is committed to overcoming the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keep us from ending AIDS. With the mobilization of our network of generous supporters and partners, we fund local experts across four continents to challenge discrimination, prevent infections, and provide treatment as well as influencing governments to end AIDS. www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org

¹ Data provided by UNAIDS (2024), https://www.unaids.org/en
² Data provided by the Elton John AIDS Foundation – June 2024
³ Jonas, Kai J. et al. The war refugees from Ukraine: an HIV epidemic is fleeing as well. AIDS 36(12):p 1745-1746, October 1, 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003271, last accessed June 2024
⁴ Schweitzer AM et al, Addressing HIV stigma in healthcare, community, and legislative settings in Central and Eastern Europe, 2023. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10714556/, last accessed June 2024
⁵ European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Migrant health: HIV testing and counselling in migrant populations and ethnic minorities in EU/EEA/EFTA Member States. Available at: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/media/en/publications/Publications/1108_TER_HIV_in_migrants.pdf, last accessed July 2024.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240718867405/en/

Meaghan Smith, Media

public_affairs@gilead.com

Jacquie Ross, Investors

investor_relations@gilead.com

 

 

Source: Gilead Sciences, Inc.

FAQ

What is the RADIAN partnership between Gilead (GILD) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation?

RADIAN is a partnership between Gilead Sciences (GILD) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation that supports grassroots organizations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to address HIV-related challenges in the region.

How much is Gilead (GILD) investing in the RADIAN partnership extension?

Gilead (GILD) is investing $25 million over five years in the extension of the RADIAN partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

What are the main goals of the RADIAN partnership extension for Gilead (GILD)?

The main goals are to support local organizations, address structural drivers of the HIV epidemic, strengthen HIV health systems, and expand geographic focus to help communities impacted by the Ukraine conflict.

How many people has the RADIAN partnership reached with HIV services since 2019?

Since 2019, the RADIAN partnership has reached over 271,000 people with HIV services and provided more than 114,000 HIV tests.