Center for Social Innovation

This case describes Gilead Sciences' initial experience implementing an access program for delivering its AIDS drug, Viread, to developing nations in Africa.

In April 2003 Gilead announced the Gilead Access Program to make available the company’s new drug, Viread, at no profit to developing countries.

Viread represented a significant advancement in anti-retroviral medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS with once-a-day dosage, greater effectiveness, and a much-improved side-effect profile. Gilead executives expected the Access Program to have an immediate, positive impact on the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in the world’s poorest countries.

A year after implementation, however, the Access Program had not led to widespread use of Viread in Africa. Having learned from early missteps, Gilead had to make significant changes to improve the program. It also wanted to expand the Access Program to create greater access to therapies in middle-income regions.

Readers of the case are asked to address these issues. The A case discusses Gilead's initial considerations in designing the Access Program.