Bristol-Myers & Pfizer Release Phase IV Data On Eliquis

 | Mar 18, 2019 06:44AM ET

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) along with partner Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced results from the phase IV -AUGUSTUS study evaluating the blood thinner drug, Eliquis (apixaban) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The study evaluates the safety of Eliquis as compared to warfarin or other VKA in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or for those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

In the study, apart from Eliquis or VKA, patients were also randomized to aspirin or placebo and received a P2Y12 inhibitor. AUGUSTUS is the largest study in this high-risk patient population requiring both anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies.

The study demonstrated that at six months, patients receiving a P2Y12 inhibitor with or without aspirin who were treated with Eliquis had lower rates of death or hospitalization and similar rates of death or ischemic events compared to those assigned to VKA. The results also showed that patients receiving a P2Y12 inhibitor and an anticoagulant who were treated with aspirin had similar rates of death or hospitalization and similar rates of death or ischemic events compared to those assigned to placebo.

Shares of Bristol-Myers have plunged 22.2% in the past year, against the industry ’s growth of 13.2%.