Gilead’s Dedication to Promoting Health Equity Among Black Women and Eradicating the HIV Epidemic.
Discovering Gilead: Beyond a Biopharmaceutical Company, A Champion for Health Equity.
Before joining Gilead, I recognized it primarily for its groundbreaking therapies spanning HIV, liver disease, and cancer. However, my time here has revealed a broader, more profound identity. Gilead’s mission extends far beyond medicinal innovation, as it pulsates with an unwavering dedication to advancing health equity.
Throughout its history, Gilead has exhibited thoughtful and audacious commitment to communities with the most pressing unmet needs. At the forefront of this mission, consistently topping the list, are women and girls, with a special emphasis on the well-being of Black women and girls. As a Black woman and General Counsel in the biopharmaceutical field, I intimately understand the stark statistics that demonstrate our disproportionate vulnerability to diseases. Advocating for and supporting the cause of Black women and girls is deeply personal to me.”
Last week, my thoughts were deeply occupied by a significant event where I joined numerous dedicated and talented individuals at the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA). USCHA stands as the largest assembly related to HIV in the United States. This year’s overarching theme, ‘A Love Letter to Black Women,’ not only expressed a poignant sentiment but also underscored the commitment to focus on a community disproportionately affected by HIV.
Recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlight a stark reality: Black women constitute 54% of new HIV diagnoses among women aged 16 and older, even though our demographic represents only 14% of the population. Paradoxically, Black women have consistently been underrepresented in HIV clinical trials, hindered by factors such as stigma, medical mistrust, and limited access to trial study locations.
In the face of this challenging backdrop, Black women and girls often avoid discussing HIV or consider it irrelevant to our lives. This is why I found encouragement in witnessing numerous women addressing this issue at USCHA, engaging in critical conversations about the multifaceted social, political, educational, and environmental obstacles that detrimentally impact our community.”
“The conference also cast a spotlight on the diverse and innovative strategies to address unmet needs in HIV prevention, education, and care. It further solidified my endorsement of Gilead’s longstanding tradition of collaborating with organizations worldwide dedicated to such vital work. While our commitment to aiding HIV-affected communities and playing a pivotal role in ending the epidemic remains unwavering, we acknowledge that we cannot achieve these goals in isolation. Hence, Gilead has maintained decades-long partnerships with public health entities, community advocates, and policymakers who share our vision of advancing health equity and dismantling barriers to healthcare access and overall well-being.
In 2022, we proudly earned the distinction of being the primary global philanthropic supporter of HIV-related causes. Concurrently, we persist in making substantive investments in the health and leadership of Black women. Since 2017, we have contributed over $35 million in philanthropic aid to organizations led by and serving Black women in the United States. Furthermore, in June, we launched the Setting the P.A.C.E. initiative, a dedicated three-year, $10 million commitment aimed at enhancing HIV prevention, promoting health equity, and combatting stigma among cisgender and transgender Black women and girls.
At Gilead, we are resolute in our pledge to ensure the inclusion of underrepresented individuals in our HIV clinical trial research efforts. In 2021, we initiated our PURPOSE trials, designed to explore therapies for reducing the risk of HIV transmission. Notably, our PURPOSE 1 trial, currently underway in South Africa and Uganda, specifically centers on adolescent girls and young women. It stands as the first Phase III HIV trial to encompass pregnant and lactating women and people in its research focus.”
“Gilead’s unwavering commitment extends to ensuring the representation of marginalized individuals in our HIV clinical trial research. In 2021, we initiated our PURPOSE trials, which delve into the effectiveness of therapies designed to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition. Notably, our PURPOSE 1 trial is presently underway in South Africa and Uganda, with a specific focus on adolescent girls and young women. It stands as the pioneering Phase III HIV trial encompassing pregnant and lactating women and individuals in its research scope.
I take immense pride in being part of an organization that prioritizes the advancement of health equity for all individuals. My experience at USCHA was profoundly inspiring, as I had the opportunity to connect with numerous individuals who share this commitment. Witnessing healthcare professionals from diverse sectors unite to address the needs of Black women and girls was a powerful and emotional experience. Personally, it felt as though the “love letter” extended to each and every one of us.
My grandmother often quoted the famous saying that when you know better, you do better. I am confident that the conversations and insights gleaned from the conference will significantly contribute to our collective journey of improvement and building a brighter future. The time is undoubtedly ripe for investment in the health of Black women and for the eradication of the HIV epidemic, benefiting everyone, everywhere.”
Deborah Telman holds the position of Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs and General Counsel at Gilead.
