Latest news with #GileadSciences
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
THIS simple antiviral can lower the risk of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease continues to puzzle scientists and burden families. With around 7 million Americans currently affected, this number is projected to nearly double by 2050, reaching 13 million. In 2020 alone, the disease cost the US more than $300 billion in care and related expenses. Despite decades of research, the root cause of Alzheimer's remains unclear. What is known, though, is that abnormal protein deposits in the brain, especially amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles, play a significant role in its development. But why these plaques form in the first place is a question science is still chasing. Research suggests that a common virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), might be involved in triggering these damaging brain changes. It's the same virus responsible for cold sores. At first, this sounds surprising. But as studies begin to piece together more evidence, the idea is gaining ground. The cold sore virus and the brain HSV-1 is extremely common. According to the World Health Organisation , nearly 64% of people under the age of 50 carry the virus. Often, it stays hidden in the body, showing up now and then as cold sores. But here's where things get interesting: HSV-1 is a neurotropic virus; it can invade and remain dormant in nerve cells, including those in the brain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Back in the 1990s, Professor Ruth Itzhaki was one of the first to spot HSV-1 DNA inside Alzheimer's brain plaques. Her research also found that people with a genetic risk factor were more vulnerable to the virus's effects in the brain. Fast forward 30 years, and new studies are similar to her findings. Recent lab experiments show HSV-1 can trigger the buildup of amyloid-beta, one of the hallmark features of Alzheimer's. The idea is that repeated reactivation of the virus may damage neurons and kickstart brain inflammation, slowly increasing the risk of dementia-like decline over time. Numbers add a new layer to the theory A new study led by Gilead Sciences and the University of Washington brings real-world data into the conversation. Using medical records from over 215 million Americans, the researchers looked at whether those with an HSV-1 diagnosis were more likely to develop Alzheimer's, and whether antiviral medications made a difference. Here's what the numbers showed: People with HSV-1 had an 80% higher risk of developing Alzheimer's compared to those without it. Those who received antiviral treatment had about a 17% lower risk of Alzheimer's compared to untreated individuals. This large-scale study offers something many previous ones lacked: population-wide evidence that supports earlier lab-based theories. But it's not without flaws. The data came from insurance claims, which means many mild or undiagnosed HSV-1 cases likely went unnoticed. Also, the specifics, such as the type, dose, or duration of antivirals, were not available. These gaps leave room for caution when interpreting the results. It's tempting to jump to conclusions, but science moves slowly and carefully. The connection between HSV-1 and Alzheimer's is still correlational, meaning that while patterns are visible, they don't prove cause and effect. There are many possible explanations. For example, HSV-1 may not directly cause Alzheimer's but might trigger immune system changes, especially in genetically susceptible people. Or, people with weaker immune defences might be more prone to both HSV-1 reactivations and neurodegenerative decline. What complicates things further is that Alzheimer's is influenced by many factors: Age is still the biggest risk. Genetics, like the APOE ε4 gene, play a key role. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity also contribute. And now, chronic infections like HSV-1 may be another layer of the puzzle. In short, no single cause has been found, but pieces like this help build a clearer picture.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
We can't win the fight to end HIV if we cut funding and access to medication
The fight to end HIV in our lifetimes just received a game-changing innovation. In June, the FDA approved Yeztugo (lenacapavir), a groundbreaking HIV prevention treatment that requires just two injections per year — and scored 99 percent effectiveness in trials. This monumental scientific breakthrough is poised to transform the lives of people who have found it hard to keep up with daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, providing an option that fits better into their everyday lives. But as exciting as this development is, it could be undermined by the Trump administration's proposal to cut nearly $1 billion from federal HIV prevention programs. Innovations like lenacapavir could be a key tool to ending the epidemic, but only if we have the resources and policy to deliver it directly to those who need them most. Although lenacapavir's efficacy is groundbreaking, access remains another story. With a price tag hovering around $28,000 a year, this medication risks being out of reach for the very communities who need it most. We're still waiting to see how programs managed by Gilead Sciences, which developed the treatments, and the broader insurance markets will step up. And it's not just the cost of the drug itself. It's the labs, the provider visits, the follow-ups — each one a potential roadblock for someone trying to stay safe. Federal leadership is essential to ensuring this new HIV prevention tool reaches the communities who need it most. This includes updating clinical guidelines, funding support services and supporting the infrastructure that makes access possible. Unfortunately, the Trump administration and the Republican majorities in Congress are putting access to lifesaving innovations at risk. The administration's attacks on HIV prevention, including its proposals to eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's HIV budget and efforts to dismantle public health systems, threaten progress. The Republican budget reconciliation bill that President Trump signed over the July 4 weekend includes deep cuts to Medicaid — the largest payer for HIV care in the U.S. Without strong federal investment and coordination, expanding access to new tools and ending the HIV epidemic is at serious risk. Despite the real strides we have made in HIV prevention, those of us in the lesbian, gay, and transgender community — especially non-white Southerners in rural areas or navigating poverty — know that not every prevention strategy reaches us, works for us, or is built with us in mind. Our realities demand options that reflect the full truth of who we are and how we live. Lenacapavir offers real, powerful hope, but let's be clear: Science alone won't save us. What will make the difference is equitable and intentional policies that center our communities and a public health infrastructure that doesn't leave us behind. These numbers don't shift on their own. Yes, we have made progress over time. But the hard truth is that Black Americans still account for 43 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., despite being just 13 percent of the population. The data is even more stark for Black transgender women: 44 percent are living with HIV, and their lifetime risk remains unacceptably high. And we cannot ignore the geography of this epidemic. The South accounts for 52 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. That's not a coincidence — it is the result of systemic failures: limited access to healthcare, persistent stigma, lack of comprehensive sex education and the absence of strong non-discrimination protections. These barriers don't just prevent care — they trap people in cycles where prevention tools are out of reach. Among gay and bisexual Black men, the risk of contracting HIV is still 50 percent over a lifetime. Prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis and lenacapavir hold promise, but they only matter if people can actually access them, without fear, shame or coercion. Ending this epidemic means creating environments where people are safe to make informed choices about their own health. The fight to end the HIV epidemic is not just about what happens in labs — it's about how we make these innovations real for our communities. Science is doing its part. Now is the time to urge Congress to reject any cuts to CDC HIV prevention efforts and to fully fund the HIV response. We have the tools to end this epidemic, but not if we dismantle the very systems our communities rely on to survive. The promise of lenacapavir, and the hope it represents, is too great to let fall through the cracks of policy neglect. The question is, will we make the choice to ensure that this breakthrough reaches all of us? Science has given us the tools. Now, we must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to use them.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Gilead Sciences (GILD) Appeals to Income Investors in the Pharma Sector
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) is included among the 14 Best Pharma Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2025. A physician and a patient having a discussion in a hospital about biopharmaceutical medicines. The company rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to its antiviral drug remdesivir, one of the earliest approved treatments for the virus. However, despite its scientific breakthroughs and commercial achievements, Gilead has lagged behind the broader market over the past ten years, as investors remain cautious about its growth prospects and ability to deliver on its pipeline. That said, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)'s cash position remained stable, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks in the pharma sector. In the first quarter of 2025, the company generated $1.8 billion in operating cash flow and had $7.9 billion available in cash and cash equivalents. During the quarter, it also returned $1 billion to investors through dividends. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.79 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.90%, as of July 17. The company has raised its payouts every year since 2015. While we acknowledge the potential of GILD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Gilead Sciences (GILD) Appeals to Income Investors in the Pharma Sector
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) is included among the 14 Best Pharma Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2025. A physician and a patient having a discussion in a hospital about biopharmaceutical medicines. The company rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to its antiviral drug remdesivir, one of the earliest approved treatments for the virus. However, despite its scientific breakthroughs and commercial achievements, Gilead has lagged behind the broader market over the past ten years, as investors remain cautious about its growth prospects and ability to deliver on its pipeline. That said, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)'s cash position remained stable, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks in the pharma sector. In the first quarter of 2025, the company generated $1.8 billion in operating cash flow and had $7.9 billion available in cash and cash equivalents. During the quarter, it also returned $1 billion to investors through dividends. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.79 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.90%, as of July 17. The company has raised its payouts every year since 2015. While we acknowledge the potential of GILD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HOOKIPA Pharma Announces Intention to Voluntarily Delist and Deregister its Common Stock
NEW YORK and VIENNA, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK, 'HOOKIPA'), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation immunotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer and serious infectious diseases, today announced its intention to voluntarily delist from the Nasdaq Capital Market ('Nasdaq') and to deregister its common stock under Section 12(b) and Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'), and suspend its reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In connection with the consideration and evaluation of HOOKIPA's long-term prospects and strategies by HOOKIPA's board of directors, on May 21, 2025 HOOKIPA entered into an asset purchase agreement ('Asset Purchase Agreement') with Gilead Sciences, Inc. ('Gilead') pursuant to which Gilead will acquire all of HOOKIPA's assets primarily related to or necessary for the conduct of HOOKIPA's HB-400 program, currently in clinical development for the treatment of hepatitis B virus, and certain of HOOKIPA's assets related to HOOKIPA's HB-500 program, currently in clinical development for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (collectively, the 'Asset Sale'). HOOKIPA has been developing the HB-400 and HB-500 programs in collaboration with Gilead pursuant to the collaboration and license agreement with Gilead. HOOKIPA is holding a special meeting of stockholders (the 'Special Meeting') on July 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to seek stockholder approval of the Asset Sale and to approve the dissolution and liquidation of HOOKIPA in accordance with Delaware law. If the stockholders approve the Asset Sale and the dissolution and liquidation of HOOKIPA, HOOKIPA intends to file a Certificate of Dissolution (the 'Certificate of Dissolution') with the Delaware Secretary of State as soon as practicable following the closing of the Asset Sale and the completion of the transfer plan under the Asset Purchase Agreement. Upon HOOKIPA's filing of a Certificate of Dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State, the winding up and liquidation of HOOKIPA will commence. In determining to voluntarily delist and deregister its common stock, HOOKIPA considered that, assuming its stockholders approve the Asset Sale and the dissolution and liquidation of HOOKIPA at the Special Meeting, following the Asset Sale and through the subsequent liquidation and dissolution of the company, HOOKIPA would have an obligation to continue to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, even though compliance with these reporting requirements would be economically burdensome in light of the Asset Sale and HOOKIPA's announced intent to dissolve and liquidate. Further, the expenses incurred by HOOKIPA in complying with the applicable reporting requirements would reduce the assets available for ultimate distribution to stockholders. On July 18, 2025, HOOKIPA notified Nasdaq of its intent to voluntarily delist its common stock from Nasdaq. HOOKIPA currently anticipates that it will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') a Form 25 relating to the delisting and deregistration of its common stock on or about July 29, 2025, and anticipates that the delisting and deregistration under Section 12(b) of its common stock will then become effective on or about August 8, 2025. Following the delisting, any trading in HOOKIPA's common stock would only occur in privately negotiated sales and potentially on an over-the-counter market; however, there is no guarantee that a broker will make a market in the common stock and that trading of the common stock will continue on an over-the-counter market or otherwise. Following the delisting of its common stock from Nasdaq, HOOKIPA intends to file a Form 15 with the SEC to deregister its common stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and suspend its reporting obligations under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As a result of the filing of the Form 15, HOOKIPA's obligation to file certain Exchange Act reports and forms with the SEC, including certain Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, will cease. HOOKIPA will generally be relieved of all reporting obligations under the Exchange Act upon the effectiveness of the Form 15. The Company expects that the deregistration of its common stock will become effective 90 days after the filing of the Form 15 with the SEC. About HOOKIPAHOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next generation immunotherapeutics based on its proprietary arenavirus platform. The company's product candidates are designed to induce specific, robust and durable CD8+ T cells and antibodies to eliminate cancers and serious infectious diseases. HOOKIPA's pipeline includes biological therapies for oncology, targeting human papillomavirus type 16-positive (HPV16+) cancers, KRAS mutated cancers, and other targets. In addition, HOOKIPA has partnered with Gilead Sciences, Inc. to develop therapies that are intended to provide functional cures for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Find out more about HOOKIPA online at Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements set forth in this press release constitute 'forward-looking' statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'potential,' 'will,' 'would' or similar expressions and the negative of those terms. Forward-looking statements in this press release include HOOKIPA's statements regarding its plans and its ability to successfully delist from Nasdaq and to deregister its common stock as well as the anticipated benefits thereof, the potential for a trading market in HOOKIPA's common stock following the delisting, and HOOKIPA's expectations to close the Asset Sale and to dissolve and liquidate. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the uncertainty of stockholder approval of the Asset Sale and the dissolution and liquidation of HOOKIPA, the timing and ability of HOOKIPA to close the Asset Sale, the timing and effectiveness of HOOKIPA's delisting and deregistration of the common stock, and the sufficiency of existing cash to fund operations. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of HOOKIPA in general, see HOOKIPA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in HOOKIPA's subsequent filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at and HOOKIPA's website at All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and HOOKIPA undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. Availability of Other Information About HOOKIPAInvestors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using our investor relations website, SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. We use these channels, as well as social media, to communicate with our investors and the public about our company, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the social media channels listed on our investor relations website. For further information, please contact: InvestorsChuck PadalaChuck@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
