Global pharma giant Bristol Myers Squibb has announced a major agreement with the US government to supply its widely used blood thinner Eliquis (apixaban) to the Medicaid program at no cost.

 

At the same time, the pharma company will donate more than seven tons of its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to bolster the American supply chain.

 

The move underscores BMS’s ongoing commitment to cardiovascular health, better patient outcomes, and partnerships with policymakers to reduce healthcare costs without threatening future innovation.

 

“We are taking direct action to improve the lives of millions of Americans, ensuring our nation’s most vulnerable have access to this critical medicine at no cost,” said Christopher Boerner, Board Chair and CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb. 

 

“Today’s agreement builds on BMS’s efforts to improve affordability, increase transparency and continue to invest in America, where we have an over 165-year history of discovering and developing life-changing medicines.”

 

Eliquis, the nation’s most widely prescribed oral blood thinner, has been prescribed to more than 15 million Americans since its launch. 

 

It is a key treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) not caused by heart valve problems, helping reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots, while also treating and preventing recurrence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.