Gilead Sciences, Inc. stands as a beacon of innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry, dedicated to transforming lives through groundbreaking medicines. For over three decades, this Foster City, California-based company has pioneered therapies for some of the world’s most challenging diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer, and inflammatory conditions.
With a global presence and a commitment to scientific excellence, Gilead has become a trusted name in healthcare, delivering life-changing treatments to millions. This extensive article delves into Gilead’s company profile, its diverse portfolio of products and services, iconic brands, worldwide operations, leadership structure, subsidiary network, and financial landscape, offering a holistic view of a company shaping the future of medicine.
Company Profile: A Legacy of Innovation
Founded in 1987, Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical leader headquartered at 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, California. Incorporated in Delaware and publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GILD, Gilead operates in more than 35 countries, employing thousands of professionals who drive its mission to create a healthier world for all people.
The company’s core focus lies in developing innovative medicines that address unmet medical needs, with a portfolio spanning virology, oncology, liver disease, and inflammatory conditions. Gilead’s therapies are designed to offer superior efficacy, improved delivery methods, and reduced side effects, setting new standards in patient care.
Gilead’s journey began with a vision to harness cutting-edge science to combat life-threatening diseases. Today, it is recognized for its robust research and development (R&D) pipeline, which includes first-in-class and best-in-class therapies. The company invests heavily in R&D, collaborating with academic institutions, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical partners to accelerate drug discovery. Its strategic acquisitions, such as those of Kite Pharma and Immunomedics, have bolstered its capabilities in cell therapy and oncology, positioning Gilead as a leader in these fields.
Operating in a highly competitive environment, Gilead faces challenges from large pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and generic manufacturers. Competition is based on factors such as efficacy, safety, tolerability, ease of administration, pricing, and market access. Pricing pressures from insurers, government payers, and pharmacy benefit managers, along with the introduction of new branded and generic products, shape the competitive landscape. Despite these challenges, Gilead maintains its edge through intellectual property protection, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to innovation, ensuring its medicines reach patients worldwide.
Gilead’s global operations are supported by a network of commercial teams, third-party distributors, and corporate partners. Its distribution strategy involves direct engagement with healthcare providers and exclusive agreements with distributors, ensuring compliance with regional regulations and efficient market access. This operational excellence, combined with scientific prowess, has solidified Gilead’s reputation as a biopharmaceutical powerhouse.
Products and Services: Transforming Patient Care
Gilead Sciences offers a comprehensive portfolio of medicines that address critical health challenges across multiple therapeutic areas. Its products are designed to improve patient outcomes through enhanced efficacy, convenient regimens, and innovative delivery methods. Below is an in-depth exploration of Gilead’s offerings, organized by therapeutic category, reflecting its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs.
Virology: Revolutionizing HIV Treatment and Prevention
Gilead is a global leader in HIV treatment and prevention, offering a range of single-tablet regimens and combination therapies that have transformed care for people living with or at risk of HIV. Its HIV portfolio includes:
- Biktarvy: A once-daily single-tablet regimen combining bictegravir, emtricitabine (FTC), and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). It is indicated for HIV-1 infection in certain adults and pediatric patients, including those with suppressed viral loads and known or suspected M184V/I resistance. Biktarvy’s efficacy and safety have also been reinforced for pregnant individuals with HIV-1, making it a cornerstone of Gilead’s HIV offerings.
- Genvoya: A once-daily single-tablet regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat, FTC, and TAF, approved for HIV-1 infection in specific patient populations, offering a convenient treatment option.
- Descovy: A fixed-dose combination of FTC and TAF, used with other antiretroviral agents for HIV-1 treatment. Descovy is also approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 in at-risk individuals, excluding those at risk from receptive vaginal sex.
- Odefsey: A single-tablet regimen combining FTC, TAF, and rilpivirine (marketed by Janssen), dosed once daily for HIV-1 treatment in specific patients.
- Complera/Eviplera: A single-tablet regimen of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), FTC, and Janssen’s rilpivirine hydrochloride, marketed as Complera in the U.S. and Eviplera in Europe, for HIV-1 treatment.
- Symtuza: A once-daily single-tablet regimen of cobicistat, FTC, TAF, and Janssen’s darunavir, commercialized by Janssen, with Gilead receiving a revenue share for its components.
- Truvada: A fixed-dose combination of TDF and FTC, used for HIV-1 treatment and PrEP to prevent HIV-1 infection in at-risk populations, excluding those at risk from receptive vaginal sex.
- Stribild: A single-tablet regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat, TDF, and FTC, dosed once daily for HIV-1 treatment in specific patients.
- Sunlenca: An HIV-1 capsid inhibitor available as oral tablets and subcutaneous injections, indicated as a twice-yearly treatment for heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infection, offering a novel approach to managing complex cases.
Gilead’s HIV research continues to push boundaries, with product candidates like lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor under review for PrEP, demonstrating the company’s commitment to long-acting solutions.
Liver Disease: Addressing Hepatitis and Beyond
Gilead’s liver disease portfolio tackles chronic hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis delta virus (HDV), and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), offering therapies that have redefined treatment standards. Key products include:
- Epclusa: A once-daily single-tablet regimen of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir, approved for chronic HCV infection across genotypes 1-6 in adults and pediatric patients aged 3 and older. An authorized generic version is distributed by Asegua Therapeutics LLC.
- Vemlidy: An oral formulation of TAF, dosed once daily for chronic HBV infection in adults and pediatric patients aged 6 and older with compensated liver disease, offering improved renal and bone safety profiles.
- Harvoni: A once-daily single-tablet regimen of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for chronic HCV infection in adults and pediatric patients aged 3 and older. An authorized generic version is available through Asegua Therapeutics LLC.
- Viread: An oral formulation of TDF, dosed once daily for chronic HBV infection in adults and pediatric patients aged 2 and older, a long-standing option in HBV management.
- Livdelzi: An oral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta agonist for PBC, used in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in adults with inadequate response to UDCA or as monotherapy for those unable to tolerate UDCA. It received accelerated FDA approval based on the Phase 3 RESPONSE study.
- Bulevirtide: A product candidate under FDA review for chronic HDV infection, with Orphan Drug and Breakthrough Therapy designations, addressing a rare and challenging condition.
COVID-19: A Global Response
Gilead’s contribution to the COVID-19 pandemic includes:
- Veklury (remdesivir): An intravenous nucleotide analog RNA polymerase inhibitor for COVID-19 treatment in hospitalized adults and pediatric patients (aged 28 days and older, weighing at least 3 kg) or non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 at high risk of severe progression. Veklury has been a critical tool in managing the pandemic.
Oncology: Pioneering Cancer Therapies
Gilead’s oncology portfolio includes cell therapies and targeted treatments for various cancers, reflecting its growing focus on precision medicine:
- Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel): A CAR T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) in adults, approved for multiple indications, including refractory or relapsed cases, offering hope for patients with limited options.
- Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel): A CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults, addressing aggressive cancers.
- Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy): A Trop-2 directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer. It has Breakthrough Therapy designation for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
Gilead is advancing its oncology pipeline with candidates like anitocabtagene autoleucel (with Arcellx) for multiple myeloma and combinations of domvanalimab and zimberelimab (with Arcus Biosciences) for lung and gastrointestinal cancers.
Other Therapeutic Areas
Gilead’s portfolio extends to antifungal and pulmonary treatments, addressing niche but critical needs:
- AmBisome: A liposomal formulation of amphotericin B for serious invasive fungal infections in adults, widely used in hospital settings.
- Letairis: An oral endothelin receptor antagonist for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), used to improve exercise capacity and reduce disease progression.
Brands: A Portfolio of Trust and Innovation
Gilead Sciences owns or has rights to a robust portfolio of trademarks, copyrights, and trade names that embody its commitment to quality and innovation. These brands are globally recognized and trusted by healthcare providers and patients. Key brands include:
- GILEAD and GILEAD SCIENCES: The core brand identity, representing biopharmaceutical excellence.
- KITE: Associated with Gilead’s cell therapy division, encompassing Yescarta and Tecartus.
- AMBISOME, ATRIPLA, BIKTARVY, CAYSTON, COMPLERA, DESCOVY, DESCOVY FOR PREP, EMTRIVA, EPCLUSA, GENVOYA, HARVONI, LETAIRIS, ODEFSEY, STRIBILD, SUNLENCA, SYMTUZA, TRODELVY, TRUVADA, VEKLURY, VEMLIDY, VIREAD, VOSEVI, YESCARTA, ZYDELIG: Product-specific brands reflecting Gilead’s diverse therapeutic offerings.
These brands are protected by patents, with primary patent expirations in the U.S. and EU extending into the 2030s for many products. For example, Biktarvy’s patent expires in 2033 in the U.S. and 2032 in the EU, while Trodelvy’s patent extends to 2028 in the U.S. and 2029 in the EU, ensuring long-term market exclusivity.
Geographical Presence: A Global Reach
Gilead Sciences operates in over 35 countries, with a sophisticated network of marketing subsidiaries, third-party wholesalers, distributors, and corporate partners. Its global footprint ensures its medicines reach patients across diverse regions. Key aspects of Gilead’s geographical presence include:
- United States: The primary market, where Gilead distributes products exclusively through wholesalers. Three major wholesalers—Cardinal Health, Inc., Cencora, Inc., and McKesson Corporation—account for approximately 91% of U.S. product sales and 65% of global revenues.
- Europe: Operations in countries like Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK, supported by commercial teams and distributors. Products like Eviplera (Complera in the U.S.) are tailored for the European market.
- Asia-Pacific: Presence in Australia, China, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, with subsidiaries like Gilead Sciences KK (Japan) and Gilead Sciences Shanghai Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. (China).
- Latin America: Operations in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Panama, with entities like Gilead Sciences Farmacêutica do Brasil Ltda. and Gilead Sciences Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V.
- Middle East and Africa: Activities in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkey, supported by subsidiaries like Gilead Sciences Arabia Limited Company and Gilead Sciences South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
- Other Regions: Operations in Canada, Russia, Israel, New Zealand, and European countries like Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Gilead’s distribution strategy involves direct field contact with healthcare providers and exclusive agreements with distributors, ensuring regulatory compliance and efficient market access across regions.
Board of Directors: Guiding Strategic Vision
Gilead’s Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in overseeing corporate governance, strategic direction, and compliance with securities regulations. While specific board member names are not listed, the board is referenced as a group of Tier I Insiders responsible for approving securities transactions to prevent insider trading. Key responsibilities include:
- Overseeing compliance with U.S. federal securities laws, including managing material nonpublic information.
- Approving transactions by Tier I Insiders, ensuring ethical standards are upheld.
- Guiding strategic initiatives, such as R&D investments, acquisitions, and global expansion.
The board collaborates with the Securities Watch Team, comprising the Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, and Vice President of Corporate Legal, to enforce trading policies and maintain transparency. Directors are subject to pre-clearance procedures for securities transactions, reflecting Gilead’s commitment to regulatory compliance.
Subsidiaries: A Global Network of Expertise
Gilead Sciences operates through an extensive network of subsidiaries that support its R&D, commercialization, and operational goals. As of December 31, 2024, these subsidiaries span multiple regions and therapeutic areas. Below is a detailed list, grouped by region:
United States
- Asegua Therapeutics LLC: Distributes authorized generic versions of Epclusa and Harvoni.
- CymaBay Therapeutics, Inc.: Focuses on liver disease treatments, including Livdelzi.
- Forty Seven, LLC; Forty Seven Holdings, LLC: Support oncology initiatives.
- Gilead Alberta, LLC; Gilead Apollo, LLC; Gilead Biopharmaceutics US LLC; Gilead Calistoga, LLC; Gilead Connecticut, Inc.; Gilead Holdings, LLC; Gilead Pharmasset LLC; Gilead Sciences, LLC; Gilead Sciences Holding, LLC: Facilitate R&D and commercial operations.
- Immunomedics, Inc.: Develops Trodelvy and other oncology therapies.
- Kite Pharma, Inc.; Kite Pharma, LLC; neoKite, Inc.: Lead cell therapy efforts, including Yescarta and Tecartus.
- Tmunity Therapeutics, Inc.; XinThera, Inc.: Focus on innovative immunotherapies.
Australia
- Cytopia Pty. Ltd.; Gilead Sciences Pty. Ltd.; Gilead Sciences YM Australia Pty. Ltd.; YM BioSciences Australia Pty. Ltd.: Support commercialization and R&D in the Asia-Pacific.
Europe
- Gilead Sciences GesmbH (Austria); Gilead Sciences Belgium BV (Belgium); Gilead Sciences Denmark ApS (Denmark); Gilead Sciences Finland Oy (Finland); Gilead Sciences SAS (France); Gilead Sciences GmbH, Immunomedics GmbH, MYR GmbH (Germany); Gilead Sciences Hellas EPE (Greece); Gilead Sciences Ireland Unlimited Company, Gilead Therapeutics A1 Unlimited Company, CymaBay Ireland, Limited, Gilead Apollo Unlimited Company, Gilead Biopharmaceutics Ireland UC (Ireland); Gilead Sciences S.r.l. (Italy); Gilead Sciences Netherlands B.V., Kite Pharma EU B.V., KP EU C.V. (Netherlands); Gilead Sciences Norway AS (Norway); Gilead Sciences Poland Sp. z.o.o. (Poland); Gilead Sciences, Lda. (Portugal); Gilead Sciences (GSR) S.R.L. (Romania); Gilead Sciences Slovakia s.r.o. (Slovakia); Gilead Sciences S.L.U. (Spain); Gilead Sciences Sweden AB (Sweden); Gilead Sciences Switzerland Sarl (Switzerland); Gilead Sciences Europe Limited, Gilead Sciences International Limited, Gilead Sciences Limited, CymaBay UK, Ltd., MiroBio Ltd. (United Kingdom).
Asia-Pacific
- Gilead Sciences (Shanghai) Consulting Co., Ltd.; Gilead Sciences Hangzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Gilead Sciences Shanghai Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. (China); Gilead Sciences Hong Kong Limited (Hong Kong); Gilead Sciences India Private Limited (India); Gilead Sciences KK (Japan); Gilead Sciences Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia); Gilead Sciences (NZ) (New Zealand); Gilead Sciences Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Singapore); Gilead Sciences Korea Limited (South Korea).
Latin America
- Gilead Sciences Argentina S.R.L. (Argentina); Gilead Sciences Farmacêutica do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil); Gilead Sciences Colombia S.A.S. (Colombia); Gilead Sciences Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. (Mexico); Gilead Sciences Americas S. de R.L. (Panama).
Middle East and Africa
- Gilead Sciences Arabia Limited Company (Saudi Arabia); Gilead Sciences South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (South Africa); Gilead Sciences Ilac Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Turkey).
Other Regions
- CymaBay Canada, Ltd.; Gilead Alberta ULC; Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc.; Gilead YM ULC (Canada); Gilead Sciences Israel Limited (Israel); Gilead Sciences Russia L.L.C (Russia).
These subsidiaries enable Gilead to conduct localized R&D, navigate regulatory frameworks, and distribute products efficiently across global markets.
Financial Performance: A Qualitative Overview
Gilead Sciences maintains a robust financial position, driven by its diverse product portfolio and global market presence. The company’s financial landscape is shaped by revenues from product sales and other sources, alongside significant investments in research, development, and commercialization. Below is a detailed overview of Gilead’s financial structure, based solely on the information provided in its operational and strategic disclosures.
Conclusion: Shaping a Healthier Future
Gilead Sciences remains a cornerstone of the biopharmaceutical industry, driven by a mission to deliver innovative medicines that transform lives. Its extensive portfolio, trusted brands, global operations, and dedicated leadership underscore its role as a leader in addressing global health challenges. From pioneering HIV treatments to advancing oncology and responding to pandemics, Gilead’s impact is profound and far-reaching.
As Gilead continues to expand its pipeline, strengthen its global presence, and invest in cutting-edge therapies, its commitment to patients remains steadfast. Through products like Biktarvy, Veklury, and Yescarta, and a network of subsidiaries spanning the globe, Gilead is building a future where life-threatening diseases are manageable, if not curable. For healthcare providers, patients, and stakeholders, Gilead Sciences represents a beacon of hope and a partner in the pursuit of a healthier world.
