Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has announced an agreement with the US government aimed at improving access to Eliquis (apixaban), an oral anticoagulant used in the treatment and prevention of blood clots. Under the agreement, Eliquis will be provided to the Medicaid programme at no cost from 1 Jan 2026.
As part of the arrangement, BMS has also committed to donating more than seven tonnes of Eliquis active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to the US Strategic Active Ingredient Reserve (SAPIR), with the stated aim of supporting domestic supply chain resilience. The company noted that the donation would be made at no cost to the US government.
Eliquis is widely prescribed in the US for indications including stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, as well as the treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Since its launch, more than 15 million patients in the US have been prescribed the medicine.
According to BMS, the agreement also includes commitments to introduce future medicines with a more balanced pricing approach across developed markets and to expand direct-to-patient access for several existing therapies for cash-paying patients at reduced prices. These medicines include Sotyktu, Zeposia, Reyataz, Baraclude and Orencia SC. The detailed financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
In addition, the company confirmed that the agreement provides BMS with three years of tariff relief and exempts it from future pricing mandates. The announcement follows BMS’s previously stated plan to invest $40bn in the US over the next five years, including expanding domestic manufacturing capacity.
Eliquis is marketed through the Bristol Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance. As with all anticoagulants, the medicine carries known risks, including an increased risk of bleeding, and its use is subject to established prescribing information and safety guidance.
