Gilead Sciences, pharma's king of HIV medicines, can now call itself the top U.S. philanthropic funder of HIV programs as well.
In the latest annual breakdown of HIV giving from the Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), Gilead Sciences took the top spot in the U.S. and number three worldwide. The report analyzed 2020 funding data to reveal that Gilead’s philanthropic efforts represented 38% of all HIV philanthropic funding in the U.S.
The company captured the ranking in a year of growth for HIV donations. Funding for programs in the U.S. rose $109 million in 2020, up 52% from 2019.
“Gilead’s support for community organizations is part of our enduring commitment to ending the HIV epidemic,” CEO Daniel O’Day said in a statement. “We believe that real progress is only possible through collaboration and partnership. That is why we invest in the extraordinary efforts our partners are undertaking to reach underserved populations, eliminate barriers to care and educate communities.”
FCAA also named Gilead as No. 1 in categories including corporate funding, funding addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and funding of Black, Indigenous and people of color communities in the U.S.
The company's funding benefitted programs including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, HIV Age Positively, which aims to improve health and quality of life for aging individuals, and TRANScend, which supports Trans-led organizations to improve the safety and wellness of the transgender community.
FCAA found that total philanthropic support to address HIV and AIDS reached $707 million in 2020 across 323 funders. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation came second behind Gilead in philanthropic giving.
Gilead's HIV drugs generated $16.3 billion globally last year, a 4% decrease.