Gilead Sciences (NYSE: GILD) is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of HIV infection, hepatitis B infection (HBV), cystic fibrosis, fungal infections, and influenza A and B. The company currently produces a market-leading HIV drug portfolio as well as other drugs, which face strong competition from drug-makers such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novartis AG (NVS), Merck (MRK), Enzon Pharmaceuticals (ENZN), and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY).In 2010, Gilead generated $7.95 billion in revenues and net earnings of $2.9 billion.^[1]

Gilead's profitability can be potentially affected by various factors, including legislative and regulatory changes in federal and private insurance coverage of its drug products, competition from the development of generic drug substitutes, supply shortages of active ingredients in its drugs, the success of clinical trials of newly-developed drugs, and changes in FDA regulations.

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