Gilead and the Elton John AIDS Foundation Announce Additional Five Years of RADIAN Partnership To Help Address the Growing HIV Crisis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

RADIAN's Five-Year, $25 Million Extension Will Increase Support for Local Organizations and Drive Progress to Help Turn the Tide on HIV Across the Region

RADIAN Will Expand Geographic Focus to Provide Key Populations and Communities Impacted by the Conflict in Ukraine with HIV Prevention and Care Services

FOSTER CITY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 13, 2024 / Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) announced a five-year extension of the RADIAN partnership to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) where the HIV epidemic is growing. RADIAN will continue supporting the initiatives of trusted, grassroots organizations who are working to address HIV-related challenges in the region.

While HIV is declining globally, EECA is one of the few regions in the world where the epidemic is getting worse, with new HIV diagnoses and AIDS-related deaths increasing by 20% and 34%, respectively, since 2010.¹ Of the 2.1 million people in EECA living with HIV, 41% are not aware of their HIV status and 50% are not on treatment - way below global 95-95-95-95 targets.¹

"We are committed to ensuring that the EECA region is not left behind because ending the HIV epidemic means ending it for everyone, everywhere," said Daniel O'Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. "During a recent visit to Kazakhstan, I met with RADIAN-supported community leaders who emphasized the importance of doubling down on our collaborative efforts. Over the next five years, RADIAN 2.0 will continue to address the structural drivers of the epidemic, strengthen HIV health systems, and enhance the capacities of local organizations for lasting impact."

Since RADIAN was launched in 2019 it has had a significant impact on the HIV response in the region, reaching more than 271,000 people with HIV services, providing over 114,000 HIV tests, (re-) initiating over 26,500 people on antiretroviral therapy, and training more than 14,000 frontline workers to reduce stigma and discrimination.² These efforts are having an impact on communities most in need, however the situation in the region has escalated dramatically in recent years with the conflict in Ukraine further exacerbating the crisis.³ Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, human rights violations, stigma and discrimination are also hindering the HIV response across the region.⁴