Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) have announced a five-year extension of the RADIAN® partnership to address the growing HIV crisis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). This partnership aims to support vulnerable populations by collaborating with grassroots organizations to tackle HIV-related challenges in the region.
Despite global declines in HIV, EECA faces a worsening epidemic, with new HIV diagnoses and AIDS-related deaths rising by 20% and 34%, respectively, since 2010. Of the 2.1 million people in EECA living with HIV, 41% are unaware of their status, and 50% are not on treatment, far below the global 95-95-95 targets.
“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 CEO of 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 its launch in 2019, RADIAN has significantly impacted the HIV response in the region, reaching over 271,000 people with HIV services, providing 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. However, recent conflicts, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, human rights violations, and stigma have further complicated the crisis.
“At the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we have a long history of supporting people living with or at risk of HIV across Eastern Europe and Central Asia – a region too often overlooked in the global HIV response. Because of insufficient access to HIV testing and effective treatment, 384 people newly acquire HIV every day in EECA and 120 people die of AIDS-related causes,” said Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. “We are incredibly proud of our RADIAN partnership with Gilead Sciences.
