Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) is included among the 14 Best Pharma Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026. Gilead (GILD) Reaches Pricing Agreement with US Government to Lower Drug Costs On December 19, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) announced an agreement with the US government aimed at lowering drug costs for Americans. The move reinforces the company’s long-standing focus on US-based innovation, affordability, and global health leadership. Under the three-year agreement, Gilead agreed to all reques ...

In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks.Drug pricing has become one of the biggest pressure points for pharmaceutical companies this year, as the U.S. moves to rein in what consumers pay at the pharmacy counter.For most drugmakers, the US is the largest single market. Prices there are often close to three times higher than in other developed countries. Branded medicines carry even steeper premiums. That gap explains why so much of the industry’s revenue still depends on Amer ...

Key Takeaways GILD will exclusively license and advance ASMB's HSV candidates ABI-1179 & ABI-5366 for genital herpes.Interim data on ABI-1179 & ABI-5366 showed strong antiviral activity and reduced virus-positive lesions.ASMB will receive $35M upfront and may earn up to $330M in milestones plus tiered royalties on sales.Gilead Sciences (GILD) recently announced that it has exercised its combined option to exclusively license Assembly Biosciences’ (ASMB) herpes simplex virus (HSV) helicase-primase inhibitor ...

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced an agreement with the U.S. government designed to reduce drug costs for Americans, reinforcing the company's long-standing commitment to U.S.-based innovation, affordability, and global health leadership. "This agreement reflects a foundational commitment to both affordability and future innovation, a commitment that we have long seen as essential to shaping the future of healthcare,†said Daniel O'Day, Chairman and Ch ...

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) maintains a leading position in the HIV market, primarily driven by its flagship therapies Biktarvy and Descovy, which have significantly contributed to the company's revenue growth in recent quarters [1][9] Gilead's HIV Portfolio - The FDA approved lenacapavir, branded as Yeztugo, as the first and only twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor for prevention, enhancing GILD's HIV portfolio amid generic competition for Truvada [2][9] - Yeztugo's competitive edge lies in its biannual dosing, appealing to a broader population compared to daily oral medications [3] - Gilead's investigational single-tablet regimen combining bictegravir and lenacapavir has met primary endpoints in phase III studies, indicating potential for regulatory submission [4][5] Competitive Landscape - The HIV treatment market includes major competitors like GSK and Merck, with GSK's HIV portfolio benefiting from strong demand for long-acting injectables and Dovato, while Merck markets doravirine in various formulations [7][8][10] Financial Performance - Gilead's stock has increased by 31.2% over the past year, outperforming the industry average growth of 15% [11] - The company's shares are trading at a price/earnings ratio of 14.32x forward earnings, which is above its historical mean of 10.93x but below the large-cap pharma industry's average of 17.11x [12] - Earnings estimates for 2025 have risen to $8.17 from $8.07, while the estimate for 2026 has slightly decreased to $8.50 from $8.51 [13]

Core Viewpoint - The global fight against HIV/AIDS is facing significant setbacks, with 40.8 million current HIV infections worldwide and 9.2 million individuals not receiving treatment, leading to an estimated 1.3 million new infections in 2024 [1] Group 1: Vaccine Development Challenges - Despite nearly 40 years of research and billions spent, no effective HIV vaccine has been developed due to the virus's high mutation rate and complexity [2][4] - The ideal HIV vaccine should stimulate the production of neutralizing antibodies, but the high mutation rate of HIV's envelope proteins makes this difficult [3][4] - The presence of glycoproteins on HIV's surface further complicates the ability of neutralizing antibodies to recognize and bind to the virus [4][5] - The immune system's destruction by HIV makes it challenging to mount an effective immune response, as CD4 cells, which are targeted by the virus, are crucial for signaling immune reactions [6][7] - The failure of major clinical trials, such as Johnson & Johnson's, highlights the difficulties in developing an effective HIV vaccine [8] Group 2: Advances in Antiviral Drugs - While vaccine development has stalled, antiviral drugs have significantly improved, now playing a crucial role in HIV prevention [8] - Oral antiretroviral drugs have become the cornerstone of HIV treatment, with established guidelines for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) [8] - Adherence to medication remains a challenge, with only 58.4% adherence reported by the end of 2022, limiting the effectiveness of prevention strategies [8] - Gilead Sciences' long-acting antiviral drug, lenacapavir, has shown promising results in clinical trials, achieving 100% prevention in one study and 96% risk reduction in another [9] - Lenacapavir has been approved by the FDA for HIV prevention, marking a significant advancement in the field, although its high cost and regulatory uncertainties may affect widespread adoption [9] Group 3: Future Directions - The ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS has not yet yielded a definitive solution, but innovative technologies are paving the way for better prevention and treatment strategies [10][11] - The focus on long-acting, low-frequency dosing regimens represents a potential breakthrough in addressing the core challenges of HIV prevention [9][10]

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences has commenced the delivery of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, for HIV prevention as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Eswatini and Zambia [1] Group 1 - The deliveries are part of efforts to enhance equitable access to long-acting HIV prevention methods across sub-Saharan Africa [1] - Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for approximately two-thirds of all individuals living with HIV [1]

Core Insights - Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that its investigational single-tablet regimen (STR) of bictegravir and lenacapavir for HIV-1 treatment met the primary endpoint in the late-stage ARTISTRY-1 study [1][5] Study Results - The ARTISTRY-1 study is a multicenter phase II/III trial comparing the once-daily combination of bictegravir and lenacapavir against current therapy in HIV patients who are virologically suppressed on complex regimens [2][4] - The study showed that the STR met the primary success criterion for non-inferiority to baseline multi-tablet antiretroviral therapy regimens, with the primary efficacy endpoint being the percentage of participants with HIV-1 RNA levels ≥50 copies/mL at week 48 [5][8] - The combination was generally well tolerated, with no significant or new safety concerns identified [5][8] Market Performance - Gilead's shares have surged 35.6% year to date, outperforming the industry growth of 15.4% [3] Future Plans - Gilead plans to file the late-stage data from the ARTISTRY trials with regulatory authorities [6][10] - The company is also conducting the double-blind, phase III ARTISTRY-2 trial, evaluating the safety and efficacy of switching from Biktarvy to the fixed-dose combination of bictegravir and lenacapavir in virologically suppressed people with HIV-1, with top-line data expected before the end of 2025 [10] HIV Franchise Strength - Gilead has a market-leading HIV franchise, with Biktarvy and Descovy as flagship therapies driving top-line growth [11] - Biktarvy accounts for over 52% of the treatment market in the U.S., while Descovy holds more than 45% of the U.S. PrEP market [11][12] - The FDA approval of lenacapavir under the brand name Yeztugo for twice-yearly PrEP has further strengthened Gilead's HIV portfolio [12][13] - Yeztugo generated $39 million in sales in the third quarter, achieving a 75% coverage goal ahead of schedule, with a target of 90% coverage by mid-2026 [14] Competitive Landscape - Positive data from the ARTISTRY studies is expected to bolster Gilead's position amid increasing competition from companies like GSK, which is expanding its HIV business with long-acting injectable medicines [15]

Core Viewpoint - The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is launching a mobile billboard to criticize Gilead Sciences for its pricing strategy regarding the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, demanding that it be made affordable and accessible [1] Group 1: Company Actions - AHF's mobile billboard will circle the venue of the Global Pharma & Biotech Summit in London on November 11-12 [1] - The billboard carries a message directed at Gilead and its CEO Daniel O'Day, urging them to "Make Lenacap" [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The event coincides with the Global Pharma & Biotech Summit, highlighting ongoing discussions in the pharmaceutical industry regarding drug pricing and accessibility [1]

Core Insights - A new generic version of lenacapavir, an HIV prevention tool, is set to reach millions, priced at approximately $40 per patient annually, compared to Gilead's list price of over $28,000 [1][8] - The collaboration between Indian manufacturers and organizations like Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative aims to expand the supply of lenacapavir, potentially accelerating its availability to high-risk populations [2][8] - Despite advancements in HIV treatment, 1.3 million new infections occurred last year, with two-thirds of those living with HIV located in Africa, where prevention tools are limited [3][6] Group 1 - Lenacapavir offers a six-month protection with a single injection, which is particularly beneficial for women facing challenges with daily pill adherence [4][5] - The cost of lenacapavir previously limited access, especially for participants in clinical trials in South Africa, compounded by cuts to US foreign aid affecting African health systems [5][6] - Gilead's announcement to allow generic manufacturers to produce lenacapavir for 120 resource-limited countries marks a significant step towards improving access, although historical timelines for such arrangements have been lengthy [7][8] Group 2 - New agreements with Indian manufacturers could significantly reduce the time required to make lenacapavir widely available, with only 18% of those who could benefit from PrEP currently having access [8] - Gilead plans to complete regulatory submissions for lenacapavir for PrEP in 18 countries by the end of the year, with expectations for the first supplies to reach low and lower middle-income countries [8] - A modest rollout of lenacapavir could potentially prevent up to 20% of new HIV infections in high-burden countries, with distribution through national HIV programs and procurement channels like the Global Fund [9]