The Bristol Myers Squibb–Pfizer alliance has struck a new deal with Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company to make its blockbuster anticoagulant Eliquis (apixaban) available directly to patients at a lower, transparent price.
This marks a significant push to widen direct-to-consumer drug access in the US.
The move brings one of the country’s most widely prescribed blood thinners onto Cost Plus Drug Company’s online pharmacy platform, allowing patients with a prescription to buy a 30-day supply for $345 starting April 27, 2026. The partnership positions Eliquis among the highest-profile cardiovascular medicines offered through the cost-plus pricing model.
Bristol Myers Squibb emphasized the deal as part of a broader effort to reduce barriers to access and expand pricing transparency alongside its long-running alliance with Pfizer.
“The BMS-Pfizer Alliance is pleased to expand our direct-to-patient options for accessing Eliquis — a medicine relied upon by millions of Americans daily — to the popular Cost Plus Drugs platform,” said Adam Lenkowsky, chief commercial officer, Bristol Myers Squibb.
“This new collaboration is grounded in a shared commitment to transparency and offers another meaningful solution to overcome access barriers, lower costs and broaden the availability of our medicines for the patients who need them.”
Mark Cuban framed the partnership as a response to patient demand and pricing frustration in the U.S. pharmaceutical system.
“We’ve heard from a lot of people asking for Eliquis on Cost Plus Drugs, and this is about making sure they have a clearer, more direct way to access it. People shouldn’t have to guess what they’re going to pay for a medication they depend on. When you strip away the layers that drive up costs, you give people more control over how they get their prescriptions.”
Eliquis will now sit within Cost Plus Drugs’ rapidly growing roster of direct-to-patient medications, extending an alternative channel for cash-paying patients outside traditional pharmacy benefit systems. The launch follows the 2025 rollout of the BMS–Pfizer alliance’s own direct access program, Eliquis 360 Support, also accessible through BMS Patient Connect.
Used primarily to reduce stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation not caused by heart valve problems, and to treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, Eliquis remains a cornerstone therapy in cardiovascular care.
The companies also note the drug’s broader economic impact, estimating it has contributed to around $3 billion in avoided healthcare costs per 100,000 patients treated, including reduced hospitalizations and rehabilitation needs.
