Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer to sell blockbuster blood thinner Eliquis at 40% discount

Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer said they will start selling their blockbuster blood thinner, Eliquis, directly to some patients at a more than 40% discount (an important development)

But the discounted price of Eliquis is still more than nine times the average monthly out-of-pocket cost paid by patients who are commercially insured, and significantly higher than Medicare's new negotiated price for the drug under the Inflation Reduction Act

George Frey | ReutersBristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer on Thursday said they will start selling their blockbuster blood thinner, Eliquis, directly to patients at a more than 40% discount, considering recent developments

However, The move comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on the pharmaceutical industry to cut drug prices, and threatens to impose sweeping tariffs on pharmaceuticals imported into the U, considering recent developments

Moreover, Meanwhile, That negotiated price is set to take effect next year

Conversely, The negotiated price is what Medicare will pay for Eliquis, and does not set what Medicare patients will pay for the drug now or in the future, Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer said in a joint statement

They added that the negotiated price does not reflect "the substantial clinical and economic value of this essential medicine

However, "More than 90% of Eliquis prescriptions in the U

Moreover, However, Are currently covered through insurance (an important development)

But Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer said the new effort aims to expand access to the treatment, reduce out-of-pocket costs for patient and vide transparent pricing for a different group of patients. "This gram passes more savings directly to patients and demonstrates our continued focus on identifying innovative solutions that foster the best outcomes for each individual while prioritizing access to care," said Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner

In contrast, In a note on Thursday, Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger said he believes the move came in response to Trump's plan to lower U

Furthermore, Drug costs by linking prices to those paid in other developed countries (noteworthy indeed)

However, The president signed an executive order on that plan in May, in today's market environment

Risinger said the drugmakers already offer hefty rebates on Eliquis to pharmacy benefit managers, so the firm does not expect the gram to create a "net pricing headwind" for Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer.