Gilead Sciences is working to cement its status as a supporter of Indigenous communities. Having been named the top funder of Indigenous communities in the U.S., the big biotech has committed $6 million to programs in Australia and Canada.
California-based Gilead plans to create a $6 million grant program focused on HIV and viral hepatitis with Lowitja Institute in Australia and CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks in Canada. Gilead, which posted (PDF) sales of almost $20 billion across its HIV and hepatitis products last year, plans to split the grant money evenly between Australia and Canada and invest it over three years.
The biotech hailed the $6 million program as “its largest commitment to health equity for Australian and Canadian Indigenous communities.” Gilead sees its support for the two Indigenous-led organizations as a way to help fix societal barriers to care that contribute to the transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis. Alex Kalomparis, senior vice president, public affairs at Gilead, discussed the goals of the program.
“We recognize that the Indigenous communities in both Australia and Canada have unique healthcare needs,” Kalomparis said in a statement. "Gilead's new funding program will help promote engagement in HIV and viral hepatitis care by supporting culturally appropriate solutions that address these needs, while enabling Indigenous people to continue advocating for the care of their communities.”
The commitment is the latest in a series of Gilead initiatives focused on Indigenous communities, which suffer from a disproportionate rate of HIV and viral hepatitis. Gilead has backed Indigenous communities through its work with Human Rights Campaign, sponsored the 2023 Indigenous Peoples Conference – HIV and Hepatitis Health Equity, funded research and formed partnerships in Australia and Canada.
Gilead also makes many billions of dollars a year from treating diseases that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. HIV remains the centerpiece of the biotech’s business, accounting for almost two-thirds of its total revenue last year, and hepatitis C continues to generate blockbuster sales despite falling from its peak.