FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *   Pletcher Brett A 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 05/09/2018 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol GILEAD SCIENCES INC [GILD] (Last) (First) (Middle) 333 LAKESIDE DRIVE 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP, Gen Counsel & Corp Sec 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) (Street) FOSTER CITY, CA 94404 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 18,941 D Â

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (1)	07/29/2019	Common Stock	7,200	$ 24.905	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (1)	07/22/2020	Common Stock	2,400	$ 16.89	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	01/26/2022	Common Stock	35,400	$ 24.295	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	02/01/2023	Common Stock	32,560	$ 40.56	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	02/01/2024	Common Stock	25,780	$ 80.65	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	02/01/2025	Common Stock	23,460	$ 104.83	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	08/10/2025	Common Stock	14,830	$ 116.58	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	02/01/2026	Common Stock	53,590	$ 84.05	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	02/02/2027	Common Stock	73,480	$ 72.25	D	Â
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)	  (2)	02/01/2028	Common Stock	69,200	$ 83.49	D	Â
Restricted Stock Unit	  (3)	  (3)	Common Stock	4,140	$ (4)	D	Â

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Pletcher Brett A 333 LAKESIDE DRIVE FOSTER CITY, CA 94404	Â	Â	  EVP, Gen Counsel & Corp Sec	Â

Signatures

/s/ Brett A. Pletcher		05/16/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The shares subject to the option have a five-year vesting schedule. 20% vest on the first anniversary of the date of the grant. The balance will vest 5% quarterly thereafter until fully vested.
(2)	The shares subject to the option have a four-year vesting schedule. 25% vest on the first anniversary of the date of the grant. The balance will vest 6.25% quarterly thereafter until fully vested.
(3)	The restricted stock units have a four-year vesting schedule. 25% vest on each yearly anniversary of the date of grant until fully vested.
(4)	Each restricted stock unit represents the contingent right to receive one share of Gilead Sciences, Inc.'s common stock.

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