John C. Martin

Education Martin earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University, He served on the board of trustees of the latter two universities. One of the benefits of a combined pill was that patients would be more likely to consistently comply with treatment by taking a full dose of the prescribed drugs, which in turn would lessen the chance that drug-resistant HIV strains would develop. The two companies announced that they would collaborate on the drug in 2004. An initial formulation of once-a-day single-dose Atripla was approved by the FDA on July 12, 2006. Purchase of Atripla was included in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program. According to The New York Times, Gilead had about half of the US market for HIV medication manufacture by 2011.

In 2014, Martin led the commercialization of Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) — "a treatment for the liver virus hepatitis C that can cure 90% of patients and generated $12 billion in revenue in its first year on the market."

Sofosbuvir is cited as an example of how specialty drugs present both benefits and challenges.

Sofosbuvir also is an excellent example of both the benefit and the challenge of specialty medications. On one hand, this agent offers up to a 95% response rate as part of an interferon-free treatment regimen for hepatitis C.6 Generally speaking, it is more effective and better tolerated than alternative treatments.6 Unfortunately, the current per pill cost—$1,000—results in an $84,000 treatment course, creating barriers to therapy for many.6 Patients, providers, and payors alike have expressed outrage, and the debate has even drawn the attention of the US Congress.7 Despite these concerns, sofosbuvir rapidly has become a top seller in the United States. ... Under his leadership, Gilead's medications were incorporated into major global health programs like PEPFAR and the Global Fund, increasing availability in low-income countries. He also worked to expand access to hepatitis C treatments through licensing agreements that made them more affordable in developing regions including in highly prevalent countries like Egypt and Republic of Georgia.

Appointments Martin was president of the International Society for Antiviral Research (1998–2000); chairman of the California Healthcare Institute (2005–2006, 2009); and chairman of BayBio (1999–2001).

Awards In 1990, Martin received the American Chemical Society's Isbell Award, "for his applications of carbohydrate chemistry to the design of medicinally active nucleosides and nucleotides." He was also an Award Winner and National Finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

In 2008 Martin became a member of the National Academy of Engineering, "for the invention, development, and commercialization of anti-viral medicines, especially treatments for HIV/AIDS."

The 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service was presented to John Martin by the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, for his work on the development of anti-HIV medications and on AIDS prevention through Pre-exposure prophylaxis.

In 2015 Martin was named by investment firm Morningstar as best CEO. During his tenure as CEO since 1996, Gilead shares rose 100-fold, and the stock posted a 157% gain just from 2013 to 2015.

In 2017, Martin was chosen to receive the Biotechnology Heritage Award from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO, formerly the Biotechnology Industry Organization) and the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

In 2019 Martin received the NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society for his tireless contributions to human health, including treatments for HIV/AIDS.

Personal life Martin was divorced.

In April 2021 Forbes ranked Martin to be worth $1.1B.