A trio of AIDS advocacy groups is accusing Gilead Sciences (GILD) of drastically limiting a key component of an AIDS prevention treatment in an “unethical” manner that may violate federal guidelines.
At issue is a Gilead drug called Truvada, which is combined with one of two other medicines to form nPEP, or non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis, the term used to describe preventive treatment. Observational studies suggest the combination can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV infection when started within 72 hours of exposure and continued for a month.
However, the drug maker has purportedly created barriers to access, according to the advocacy groups. They maintain that, through a patient assistance program, Gilead has limited access to just once in a lifetime, and has also implemented “hardship review criteria” and procedures for obtaining subsequent prescriptions that have not been clearly articulated.
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This is from a company whose CEO earned over $90 million and who charged $1000 a pill for a drug they purchased.