When it comes to headwinds testing big pharma’s strength, Bristol Myers Squibb Company is walking straight into the eye of the storm through the rest of this decade. BMS is trying to weather the loss of exclusivity for multiple blockbuster products as it launches new products into markets with strong competition and payer pushback while the US government ramps up efforts to control drug pricing. However, the company has numbers on its side, with 10 recent launches and 16 additional new drugs expected by 2030.
Key Takeaways
-
BMS is facing triple headwinds of pricing and reimbursement constraints, competitive pressures and three major exclusivity losses through the rest of this decade.
-
Growth through recent and future launches is a priority, so the company is focused on commercial execution to drive sales gains for its new products
Not only is Bristol’s Eliquis (apixaban) among the first 10 drugs subject to Medicare price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2026, two years ahead of the anticoagulant’s US patent expiry, but the company revised its mid-term sales guidance in October for the 10 products it launched during the last four years due to slower-than-expected uptake. (Also see "First Round Of Drugs Up For Medicare Negotiation Gets Soft Landing" - Scrip, 30 August, 2023
