HIV drug helps profit surge at Gilead

THE sales of a blockbuster HIV drug last year contributed to a sharp increase in pre-tax profits at the main Irish arm of pharma giant, Gilead to $55.1 million (€41.6m) after revenues topped $2.75 billion (€2bn).

The US firm produces “Atripla” at its Cork plant for HIV and AIDS patients that provides a combination of three medicines in a single daily pill.

Gilead is the world’s largest maker of HIV drugs and last year Gilead’s worldwide sales of Atripla totalled $2.9bn.