Gilead's Strong Fundamentals Should ContinueBusiness continues to look strong for Gilead Sciences (GILD). The company's tenofovir-based HIV products (Viread, Truvada and Atripla) are number one and widening their lead. The clinical data continues to support the switching of patients from older generation molecules such as abacavir and lamivudine to Gilead's franchise. Also driving impressive trends are revised HIV treatment guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommending only Truvada (and Atripla) as the backbone of choice in naïve patients.These new guidelines, put into place in November 2008, downgraded Epzicom to an alternative medication based on cardiovascular risk and high rates of virologic failure. Finally, the new FDA chief, Margaret Hamburg, a former New York City Health Commissioner, has significant experience in combating infectious disease, such as HIV/AIDS, and we believe that this type of focused leadership only further adds to the ...

In 2002, the federal government created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen our nation’s security against acts of bioterrorism. Since its inception, the DHS has spent over $48 billion on a number of projects to keep citizens safe. One key component that the DHS has invested in is named BioWatch, a deployed system consisting of sensors placed in 30 undisclosed cities to detect airborne pathogens like anthrax, plague, and smallpox.

Some researchers are questioning the effectiveness of BioWatch. Theoretically, the sensors will detect threats and set off early-warning systems in DHS to ensure the earliest possible detection and deployment of personnel during a biological attack. However, a threat may take as long as 34 hours to detect since air samples are manually collected and physically taken to labs for analysis. A number of experts believe that a real-time detection system will

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