The Companies Making the Most Money with HIV/AIDS Drugs

Launched in 2018, the anti-HIV drug Biktarvy has established itself as a revenue heavyweight for the U.S. company Gilead in just a few years. In 2023, this triple HIV therapy generated worldwide sales of roughly $12 billion, up 14 percent year-over-year. Gilead's newest antiretroviral treatment now accounts for over 40 percent of its sales.

The pharmaceutical group, which has made drugs relating to the fight against HIV and AIDS one of its specialties, is the undisputed leader in this sector. As our infographic shows, by 2023, Gilead held four of the eight highest-grossing HIV drugs worldwide. Biktarvy was well ahead of the pack, with a sales value almost equivalent to that of the rest of the top 8 combined.

However, the company is often the subject of controversy over the price of its drugs. Numerous personalities and NGOs, as well as the UN, have recently called on Gilead to make its promising treatments more accessible in the fight against AIDS. These treatments are often unaffordable for populations in poor or developing countries, particularly in Africa, where two-thirds of the world's HIV-infected people live.

Translated from the French original by Tristan Gaudiaut.