Commitment to equitable care
At Gilead, equitable care means striving to ensure all patients have a fair and equal opportunity to attain their highest level of health. This includes actively reflecting, in our clinical trials, the diverse populations we serve, and collaborating with organizations to reach underrepresented communities.
In addition to Gilead, various organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are leading efforts to help eliminate preventable health disparities and overcome economic and social hurdles to healthcare.
There’s a potential economic gain to the U.S. healthcare system of $135 billion per year if racial disparities alone in healthcare are eliminated, according to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.1
HIV is a significant public health issue in the U.S.
In 2020, over 30,500 people were newly diagnosed with HIV2,*
Racial and ethnic differences in new HIV diagnoses persisted with low viral suppression rates for those diagnosed3,4
Despite having disproportionately high rates of new diagnoses, their use of PrEP in 2021 was low3
Although PrEP use has steadily increased every year since 2012, the rate slowed to 11% between 2019 and 2020. This lower rate of growth occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.3
Data for 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Significant progress needs to be made toward ending the HIV epidemic5
Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America is a federal effort that scales up key HIV testing, prevention, and treatment strategies with bold goals for 2025 and 2030. Current progress in a few of the key strategies indicates more needs to be done.
Gilead’s work in HIV continues to span the full continuum of HIV care—working toward the ultimate goal: ending the epidemic
Through our initiatives, we’re working with patient organizations, payers, and healthcare providers to help end the HIV epidemic, including engaging HIV thought leaders in a discussion at a recent conference focused on HIV prevention.
What are your organization’s goals and priorities in the area of health equity?
AIDSVu.org was developed by the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in partnership with Gilead. Gilead provides this link as a convenience.
Viral hepatitis disproportionately affects select populations
In 2020, the rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases (CHB) among API persons was almost 12 times that of non-Hispanic White persons.
CHB
Hepatitis B infection rates are 12x more prevalent among API (Asian/Pacific Islander) populations6
In 2020, the rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases (CHB) among API persons was almost 12 times that of non-Hispanic White persons.
Hepatitis B–related liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among Asian Americans7
HCV
Rate of acute hepatitis C cases increased from 2014 to 20188
The rate of acute hepatitis C (HCV) cases increased 71% from 2014 (0.7 per 100,000) to 2018 (1.2 per 100,000)8; more than half of people who become infected with HCV will develop chronic infection.9
HCV disproportionately impacts select populations8
- American Indian/Alaska Native
- Black, non-Hispanic
- People who inject drugs
- People with HIV
- People born from 1945 to 1965
In people who are incarcerated, HCV prevalance is high among disproportionately affected groups such as people who inject drugs.
In 2018, two-thirds of acute HCV cases occurred among patients 20-39 years of age, who are most affected by the opioid crisis8
The prevalence of HCV infection in incarcerated populations ranges from 17.4% to 23.1%10
The National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan (NVHAP) sets forth a clear vision for how the U.S. will be a place where8:
- New viral hepatitis infections are prevented
- Every person knows their status
- Every person with viral hepatitis has high-quality healthcare and treatment free from stigma and discrimination
Though some progress has been made over time, the U.S. was not on track to achieve 2020 NVHAP targets based on a report in 20178
AA/Pl = Asian American/Pacific Islander; AI/AN = American Indian/Alaska Native; HBV = hepatitis B virus; HCV = hepatitis C virus. The NVHAP indicator uses AA/Pl, although the surveillance data refer to Asian/Pacific Islander.
Indicators from the NVHAP are monitored in annual progress reports. The progress in this table is from the 2017 Viral Hepatitis Action Plan Progress Report.
At Gilead, we are working toward the goal to eliminate viral hepatitis by supporting efforts to increase awareness, drive screening, and reduce disparities in care
How can a greater impact be made?
HepVu is presented by Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in partnership with Gilead Sciences, Inc. Gilead provides this link as a convenience.
The population health impact of COVID-19 has exposed long-standing inequities
Other races and ethnic minorities have an increased likelihood of COVID-19 when compared to white, non-Hispanic persons11
As of December 28, 2022:
As of December 28, 2022
The CDC COVID-19 Response Health Equity Strategy broadly seeks to improve the health outcomes of populations disproportionately affected, by expanding12:
- The evidence base.
- Programs and practices for testing, contact tracing, isolation, healthcare, and recovery in order to reach populations that have been put at increased risk.
- Program and practice activities to support essential and frontline workers to prevent transmission of COVID-19.
- An inclusive workforce equipped to assess and address the needs of an increasingly diverse U.S. population.
Gilead is focused on deploying our resources and leveraging decades of antiviral expertise to help patients and communities fighting the COVID-19 pandemic
Gilead collaborated with global health authorities, government agencies, healthcare systems, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and individual researchers and clinicians to share and update information, and to bring the full weight of our science to help end this pandemic.
How can we drive change?
Despite being screened at a higher rate, more Black women are dying from breast cancer13-15
In 2019, Black women received mammograms at a higher rate than White women13
Even so, the death rate for Black women was 40% higher14
Although breast cancer death rates have gone down, higher rates among racial/ethnic groups are slowing progress15
Healthy People 2030 objectives
Established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2030 sets data-driven national objectives to improve health and well-being over the next decade. There are 2 key objectives specific to breast cancer:
Increase the proportion of females who get screened for breast cancer13
Reduce the female breast cancer death rate15
Gilead is dedicated to supporting work that helps close gaps in health outcomes among groups disproportionately affected by breast cancer
Engaged with researchers to compare the relative incidences of TNBC subtypes and diagnosis percentages of Black women vs White women16
Engaged in the discussion with thought leaders across the healthcare spectrum for a meeting titled “Racial Health Disparities: A Closer Look at Benefit Design”17
How can the healthcare disparity gap be closed?
AMCP = Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy; TNBC = triple-negative breast cancer.
We look forward to hearing from you and/or your organization
At Gilead, we are committed to removing barriers to healthcare. Together we can strive to ensure life-altering treatments reach every patient who needs them.
References:
1. W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Updated study outlines potential gains to U.S. economy and a pathway for economic growth. April 24, 2018. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://wkkf.org/news-and-media/article/2018/04/updated-study-outlines-potential-gains-to-us-economy-and-a-pathway-for-economic-growth 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2020. HIV Surveillance Report 2021;33.
3. AIDSVu. Deeper look: PrEP. 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://aidsvu.org/resources/deeper-look-prep/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI95_vpfPY-wIVDqjICh0UkAKxEAAYASABEgL2v_D_Bw 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV in the United States by race/ethnicity: viral suppression. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/other-races/viral-suppression.html#print 5. America's HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard (AHEAD). National progress. 2021. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://ahead.hiv.gov/ 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B surveillance 2020. August 19, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2020surveillance/hepatitis-b.htm#print 7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Know hepatitis B. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/knowhepatitisB/ 8. Department of Health & Human Services. Viral hepatitis national strategic plan: a roadmap to elimination for the United States, 2021-2025. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/Viral-Hepatitis-National-Strategic-Plan-2021-2025.pdf 9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis C questions and answers for health professionals. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm#section1 10. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. HCV testing and treatment in correctional settings. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.hcvguidelines.org/unique-populations/correctional 11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death by race/ethnicity. Updated December 28, 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-by-race-ethnicity.html 12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 response health equity strategy: accelerating progress towards reducing COVID-19 disparities and achieving health equity. July 2020. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community/CDC-Strategy.pdf 13. Department of Health & Human Services. Healthy people 2030: increase the proportion of females who get screened for breast cancer. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/cancer/increase-proportion-females-who-get-screened-breast-cancer-c-05 14. DeSantis CE, Ma J, Gaudet MM, et al. Breast cancer statistics, 2019. CA Cancer J Clin. 2019;69:438-451. 15. Department of Health & Human Services. Healthy People 2030: reduce the female breast cancer death rate. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/cancer/reduce-female-breast-cancer-death-rate-c-04 16. Charles River Associates and Susan G. Komen. Inequities in care and treatment for triple negative breast cancer patients. March 2022. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://media.crai.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/15101341/Gilead-CRA-Report-Treatment-and-Care-for-TNBC.pdf 17. Charles River Associates and Tigerlily Foundation. Disparities in screening and diagnosis for triple negative breast cancer. October 22, 2021. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://media.crai.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/04132314/CRA-Gilead-Disparities-in-Screening-and-Diagnosis-TNBC.pdf