Key Takeaways Gilead reached patent settlements with Lupin, Cipla, and Laurus over generic Biktarvy.No Biktarvy generic entry is expected in the U.S. before April 1, 2036.FDA approval of Yeztugo and strong Biktarvy sales drive Gilead's HIV portfolio growth.Gilead Sciences, Inc., (GILD) announced that it has entered into settlement agreements to resolve the patent litigations with a few generic manufacturers who were looking to market generic versions of its flagship HIV treatment, Biktarvy.Biktarvy is one o ...

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) has demonstrated strong performance in 2025, with shares rising 26.5% year to date, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 6% [1][9] - The FDA approval of lenacapavir, branded as Yeztugo, for HIV prevention has been a pivotal event, marking it as the first twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option in the U.S. [3][7] Gilead's HIV Portfolio - Gilead holds a leading position in the HIV treatment market, with its flagship drug Biktarvy commanding over 51% market share in the U.S. [4] - The company anticipates a 3% growth in HIV sales for 2025, up from previous expectations of flat revenue, driven by strong performances from Biktarvy and Descovy [5] - The approval of Yeztugo enhances Gilead's HIV portfolio, especially as Truvada faces generic competition [6] Oncology and Cell Therapy - Gilead's oncology portfolio includes Trodelvy, which has shown strong performance in treating metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, with plans for further approvals [11] - However, the Cell Therapy franchise, including Yescarta and Tecartus, is facing competitive pressures in the U.S. and Europe [12] - Gilead's subsidiary Kite has acquired Interius BioTherapeutics for $350 million, enhancing its capabilities in CAR T-cell therapies [13] Liver Disease Portfolio - The FDA approval of seladelpar, branded as Livdelzi, for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) has strengthened Gilead's liver disease portfolio [14][15] Financial Performance and Estimates - Gilead's shares are currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 13.62x forward earnings, lower than the large-cap pharma industry's average of 14.83x [16] - Earnings estimates for 2025 have increased to $8.10 from $8.02, while the estimate for 2026 has slightly decreased to $8.50 from $8.53 [17] Strategic Collaborations - Gilead has partnered with the U.S. State Department to deliver lenacapavir, indicating a commitment to expanding its HIV prevention efforts [10] - The company is also collaborating with Merck to evaluate a combination treatment for HIV, with updates expected in 2026 [20] Dividend and Cash Position - Gilead has maintained a strong cash position, with $7.1 billion in cash and equivalents as of June 30, 2025, supporting its sustainable dividend yield of 2.76% [22] - In Q2 2025, Gilead paid out $994 million in dividends and repurchased $527 million of common stock, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders [21]

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. has received marketing authorization from the European Commission for its HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, branded as Yeytuo, which is administered twice a year [1][8] - The approval follows an accelerated review process by the European Medicines Agency, highlighting the drug's significance for public health [3][8] - Lenacapavir has shown superior efficacy in preventing HIV infections compared to daily oral Truvada, with clinical trial data supporting its effectiveness [5][10] Regulatory Approvals - Lenacapavir was also approved by the FDA in June 2025 for the same indication, branded as Yeztugo [2] - The European Commission's approval was based on positive recommendations from the CHMP and data from late-stage trials [3][4] Clinical Efficacy - In the phase III PURPOSE 1 study, lenacapavir demonstrated a 100% reduction in HIV infections among 2,134 participants [5] - The phase III PURPOSE 2 study reported only two HIV infections among 2,179 participants, indicating a 99.9% prevention rate [6] Market Position - The approval of lenacapavir strengthens Gilead's HIV portfolio, especially as its other prevention drug, Truvada, faces generic competition [10] - Gilead holds a leading market share in HIV treatments, with its flagship drug Biktarvy accounting for over 51% of the U.S. treatment market [12] Competitive Landscape - Lenacapavir is positioned as a long-acting injectable PrEP, addressing barriers associated with daily oral medications [11] - The competitive landscape includes ViiV Healthcare's Apretude, which is also a long-acting injectable approved for PrEP [13][14] Pricing and Coverage Issues - Gilead's Yeztugo has a U.S. list price exceeding $28,000 per year, and negotiations with CVS Health regarding coverage are ongoing [15]

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) shares fell 2.2% following CVS Health's decision not to include GILD's new HIV prevention drug, Yeztugo, in its commercial plans for the time being [1][8] - CVS Health's decision was influenced by clinical, financial, and regulatory factors, and Yeztugo will not be covered under its Affordable Care Act formularies [2] - GILD is negotiating with CVS regarding Yeztugo, which has a U.S. list price exceeding $28,000 annually [2] Gilead's Product Developments - Yeztugo received FDA approval in June 2025 for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35kg, and it is the first and only twice-yearly HIV PrEP option available in the U.S. [3][5] - GILD aims to secure 75% insurer coverage for Yeztugo by year-end 2025 and 90% within 12 months [3] Market Context - Currently, GILD markets two FDA-approved daily oral medications for PrEP: Truvada and Descovy [4] - GILD's shares have increased by 25.7% year-to-date, outperforming the industry growth of 4% [5] Acquisition Activity - Gilead's subsidiary, Kite, announced an agreement to acquire Interius BioTherapeutics for $350 million, which focuses on developing in vivo CAR therapeutics [7][9] - This acquisition is expected to impact GILD's earnings per share by approximately $0.23-$0.25 [8][9] Competitive Landscape - Gilead currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), while CorMedix (CRMD) and ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP) have better rankings with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [10] - CorMedix's earnings per share estimates have increased significantly, and its shares have rallied 49.1% year-to-date [11] - ANI Pharmaceuticals has also seen a slight increase in earnings estimates and a year-to-date share increase of 29.4% [12]

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. reported better-than-expected Q2 2025 results, with adjusted EPS of $2.01 surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.95 and remaining flat year over year [1] - Total revenues reached $7.1 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.9 billion, marking a 2% year-over-year increase driven by higher sales in HIV, Livdelzi, and Trodelvy [1] Financial Performance - Product sales increased 2% year over year to $7.1 billion; excluding Veklury, product sales rose 4% to $6.9 billion [5] - HIV product sales grew 7% year over year to $5.1 billion, driven by increased demand and higher average realized prices, beating estimates [5][6] - Biktarvy sales increased 9% year over year to $3.5 billion, holding over 51% market share in the U.S. treatment market [6] - Descovy sales surged 35% year over year to $653 million, maintaining over 40% market share in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) [7] - Liver Disease portfolio sales decreased 4% to $795 million, primarily due to lower chronic HCV sales impacted by Medicare Part D redesign [9] - Veklury sales plummeted 44% to $121 million due to reduced COVID-19-related hospitalizations [9] - Cell Therapy product sales fell 7% to $485 million, missing estimates due to competitive pressures [10] - Trodelvy sales increased 14% year over year to $364 million, driven by higher demand [11] Cost and Guidance - Adjusted product gross margin improved to 86.9% from 86% year over year [12] - R&D expenses rose to $1.5 billion from $1.3 billion due to increased clinical manufacturing activities [12] - Gilead raised its 2025 product sales guidance to between $28.3 billion and $28.7 billion, with adjusted EPS now anticipated in the range of $7.95-$8.25 [14][15] Pipeline Developments - Gilead received FDA approval for lenacapavir (Yeztugo), a twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor for prevention, marking a significant addition to its HIV portfolio [16][20] - The company entered a partnership with Kymera Therapeutics to develop a novel molecular glue degrader program targeting CDK2, with potential payments up to $750 million [18] Market Position - Gilead's strong performance in the HIV segment is expected to continue, with projected growth of approximately 3% in 2025, driven by Biktarvy and Descovy [19] - The approval of Yeztugo addresses barriers to PrEP adoption, providing a competitive advantage over daily oral medications [21] - Gilead's breast cancer drug Trodelvy is gaining market share, while cell therapies face competitive challenges [22][23]

Core Insights - The FDA approved Gilead Sciences' Yeztugo (lenacapavir) as the first and only twice-yearly PrEP option in the U.S. for HIV prevention, showing ≥99.9% efficacy in trials [1][2][5] - The European Medicines Agency's CHMP has recommended lenacapavir for PrEP, with a final decision from the European Commission expected later this year [2][3] - Positive trial results indicate lenacapavir's superiority over daily oral Truvada in preventing HIV infections [4][5] Company Developments - Gilead's Yeztugo could significantly contribute to revenue, with projections of $4.1 billion in sales by 2030 and $6.4 billion by 2035, driven by its ease of use compared to current treatments [6][7] - Needham upgraded Gilead's stock rating from Hold to Buy, forecasting a price of $133 based on positive physician feedback and market potential [6] Market Outlook - The HIV prevention market is expected to grow by approximately 49% by 2030, with Yeztugo anticipated to capture about 38% of this growth [7] - Gilead's revenue heavily relies on its HIV drugs, with around 70% coming from this segment, making Yeztugo a crucial growth driver [7]

Core Insights - Merck has initiated two late-stage clinical studies for MK-8527, a once-monthly oral pill for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) [1][8] - The studies aim to enroll nearly 9,000 participants and will compare MK-8527 with Gilead's daily oral PrEP pill, Truvada [2][8] - The initiation of these studies is backed by positive Phase II results showing similar adverse event rates between treatment and placebo [3] Company Developments - Merck is expanding its HIV portfolio, focusing on both prevention and treatment, with MK-8527 being a key component [6][10] - The FDA has accepted a regulatory filing for Merck's once-daily, two-drug, single-tablet regimen of doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL) for treating HIV-1, with a decision expected by April 28, 2026 [7] - Merck is also collaborating with Gilead on a once-weekly, two-drug, single-tablet regimen of islatravir/lenacapavir (ISL/LEN) [9][10] Competitive Landscape - Merck's growing HIV portfolio positions it to compete with Gilead, which currently leads the market with its PrEP medications, Truvada and Descovy [11] - If approved, MK-8527 could challenge Gilead's dominance in the PrEP market [11] - Gilead's recent approval of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, adds to the competitive pressure in the HIV therapeutic space [13] Market Context - GSK is another significant player in the HIV market, with strong sales driven by products like Cabenuva, Apretude, and Dovato [14] - The competitive dynamics in the HIV space are intensifying as companies innovate and expand their product offerings [11][14]

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) received FDA approval for lenacapavir, branded as Yeztugo, a twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35kg [1][7][10] - Yeztugo is the first and only twice-yearly PrEP option available in the United States, representing a significant advancement in HIV prevention [1][10] - The approval was based on late-stage studies, PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2, which demonstrated that ≥99.9% of participants who received Yeztugo remained HIV-negative [2][8] Company Performance - Year to date, GILD shares have increased by 18.6%, contrasting with a 4% decline in the industry [4] - The approval of Yeztugo enhances Gilead's HIV portfolio, especially as its other prevention drug, Truvada, faces generic competition [12] Competitive Landscape - Yeztugo's long-acting dosing aims to improve PrEP uptake by addressing adherence challenges and stigma associated with daily oral medications [7][10] - Gilead's flagship drug, Biktarvy, holds over 51% of the treatment market share in the United States, indicating strong market positioning [11] - The approval of Yeztugo is expected to catalyze uptake among historically underserved populations, providing a competitive advantage over daily oral pills [11][10] Regulatory and Market Developments - Yeztugo was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation and has also received validation from the European Medicines Agency for marketing authorization [9] - The approval of long-acting injectable forms of PrEP, such as Yeztugo and ViiV Healthcare's Apretude, indicates a growing trend in HIV prevention strategies [13][14]

Core Viewpoint - The FDA has approved Gilead's lenacapavir, a twice-yearly antiviral injection for HIV prevention, which could significantly impact global public health and help in the fight against the HIV epidemic [2][5]. Product Efficacy and Impact - Lenacapavir has shown the ability to virtually eliminate new HIV infections when administered every six months, outperforming existing daily pills and monthly injections [3][12]. - In clinical trials, the injection demonstrated a 99.9% efficacy rate, with only two infections among over 2,000 patients, proving to be 89% more effective than Gilead's daily pill Truvada [12][13]. Market Potential and Pricing - Analysts estimate lenacapavir could achieve peak sales of around $4 billion globally for both prevention and treatment [7]. - The current price for lenacapavir, under its treatment brand Sunlenca, exceeds $42,200 per year, but it could potentially be produced for as low as $26 to $40 annually [6]. Access and Distribution - Gilead plans to align the pricing of lenacapavir for HIV prevention with existing branded PrEP options, which are around $2,000 per month for daily pills [8]. - The company has licensed six generic manufacturers to produce lower-cost versions of the injection for 120 low- and lower-middle-income countries, and will supply doses for up to 2 million people at no profit before generics are available [9]. Challenges to Implementation - Proposed cuts to federal funding for HIV prevention, particularly affecting Medicaid, pose a significant threat to access for underserved populations [14][15]. - The potential reduction in funding could destabilize HIV prevention efforts and make it harder to distribute Gilead's injection effectively [16][17].

Core Viewpoint - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) faces potential challenges due to reported federal funding cuts for HIV prevention, impacting investor sentiment despite the company's strong market position in HIV treatments [1][2]. Company Overview - Gilead Sciences has a leading portfolio of HIV treatments, including two drugs for prevention: Descovy and Truvada [1]. - The company is seeking FDA approval for lenacapavir, which has shown promising efficacy in HIV prevention, particularly in cisgender women [5][6]. Market Position - Descovy holds over 40% market share in the U.S. PrEP market, indicating strong uptake among at-risk populations [4]. - GILD's shares have increased by 17.2% year-to-date, outperforming the industry growth of 6.8% [3]. Competitive Landscape - GSK, another player in the HIV market, has seen a 13% growth in HIV sales in 2024, driven by demand for long-acting injectable medicines [11]. - The FDA has approved Apretude, a long-acting injectable form of PrEP, which adds to the competitive pressure on Gilead's offerings [9][10]. Future Prospects - The approval of lenacapavir is anticipated to strengthen Gilead's HIV franchise, as it requires administration only twice a year, offering a competitive edge over daily oral medications [7]. - The FDA has granted Priority Review for lenacapavir, with a target action date set for June 19, 2025 [6].