Gilead
Sciences
Launches
Hep
B Campaign Gilead
has
announced
the
launch
of
Stop
Hep
B,
a grassroots
campaign
that
utilizes
community
partnerships
and
interactive
online
education
to
drive
awareness
and
testing
for
hepatitis
B,
and
to
provide
a central
place
where
patients
and
caregivers
can
"join
the
fight"
to
stop
hepatitis
B.
Following
is
the
text
of
an
announcement
from
Gilead
on
the
campaign:
"Approximately
1.25
million
Americans
are
believed
to
have
chronic
hepatitis
B,
and
up
to
a third
of
these
will
develop
scarring
of
the
liver,
liver
failure
or
liver
cancer.
Chronic
hepatitis
B often
produces
no
symptoms
in
its
earlier
stages,
so
many
individuals
are
unaware
that
they
are
infected
until
they
have
advanced
liver
disease.
As
a consequence,
approximately
5,000
Americans
die
each
year
from
the
complications
of
the
disease.
"Hepatitis
B is
a silent
epidemic
among
many
communities
in
the
United
States,"
said
Ming-der
Chang,
PhD,
Executive
Director,
American
Cancer
Society,
Eastern
Division
Chinese
Unit.
"Simply
raising
awareness
is
not
enough
to
combat
this
epidemic.
We
also
have
to
provide
practical
resources
to
help
people
join
the
fight
against
this
insidious
illness.
Programs
like
Stop
Hep
B can
help
to
achieve
these
goals."
"Community
partnerships
and
local
events
are
a key
component
of
the
Stop
Hep
B campaign.
Educational
events,
hosted
in
collaboration
with
local
organizations
and
physicians,
will
be
held
throughout
the
year
in
communities
across
the
country.
"Another
fundamental
element
of
the
Stop
Hep
B program
is
www.StopHepB.com,
a website
designed
to
inspire
visitors
to
become
vocal
advocates,
or
"warriors,"
committed
to
fighting
hepatitis
B by
informing
family,
friends
and
community
groups
about
the
disease.
Website
content
is
available
in
multiple
languages,
and
the
site
has
a search
tool
that
helps
people
find
local
physicians
who
specialize
in
treating
hepatitis
B.
"Gilead
is
committed
to
fighting
chronic
hepatitis
B through
research,
treatment,
public
education
and
community
partnership,"
said
Jim
Meyers,
Vice
President
of
U.S.
Commercial
Operations
for
Gilead
Sciences.
"We
are
excited
to
launch
a program
that
will
educate
those
who
are
most
impacted
by
the
illness.
Through
collaboration
and
sustained
action
we
can
all
help
to
raise
awareness
of
hepatitis
B."
About
Gilead
Gilead
Sciences
is
a biopharmaceutical
company
that
discovers,
develops
and
commercializes
innovative
therapeutics
in
areas
of
unmet
medical
need.
The
company's
mission
is
to
advance
the
care
of
patients
suffering
from
life-threatening
diseases
worldwide.
Headquartered
in
Foster
City,
California,
Gilead
has
operations
in
North
America,
Europe
and
Australia.
For
more
information
on
Gilead
Sciences,
visit
www.gilead.com.
02/28/06
Source
Gilead
Sciences.
Gilead
Sciences
Launches
Stop
Hep
B Campaign.
Press
Release.
February
13,
2006.
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