By Christina McEwen

AIDS advocates staged a “Day of the Dead” protest yesterday in Foster City, California in front of the headquarters of drug company Gilead Sciences Inc. The “Day of the Dead” mock funeral theme was designed to honor Americans who have died while on AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) waiting lists.  More than 6,500 Americans are now on waiting lists to receive lifesaving AIDS drugs through these state programs.  The waiting lists have been created largely because programs cannot afford to care for as many low-income Americans since the price of AIDS drugs has skyrocketed.  The price of Gilead’s key AIDS drug Atripla is more than $10,000 per patient per year, for example.

The group was asking Gilead to lower AIDS drug prices for state programs NOW!