Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer are to give more than $1m in charitable donations to non-profit organisations that support patients with cardiovascular disease.
The donations will be distributed between seven American organisations between 2014 and 2016 and will fund the independent development of innovative educational materials about stroke risk reduction in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).
The risk of stroke is one of the most serious medical concerns for individuals with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat.
The materials will address matters including disease awareness, identification of symptoms, access to care and appropriate treatment options and will be accessible to patients and carers.
Christoph Koenen, VP of US Medical Cardiovascular at BMS, said: “Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer are committed to helping patients living with NVAF better understand their increased risk for stroke and how to take action to appropriately manage this risk. We are proud to support these organisations in their efforts to help educate and empower patients and caregivers.”
The National Stroke Association, Heart Rhythm Society, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association Founders Affiliate, Regents of the University of Michigan/Society for Vascular Medicine, WomenHeart and American College of Emergency Physicians will each receive a proportion of the donations to use on their educational initiatives.
Brian Klee, group lead for US medical affairs cardiovascular at Pfizer, said: “These seven non-profit organisations were chosen because they do essential work each and every day to connect with patients and they are critical in continuing to raise awareness of devastating cardiovascular diseases.
“The Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer alliance is honoured to be able to support these organisations in providing innovative, educational resources,” he added.
In 2007, BMS and Pfizer entered a worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialise Eliquis (apixaban), an oral anticoagulant discovered by BMS. The alliance combines BMS’s knowledge in cardiovascular drug development and commercialisation with Pfizer’s global scale and expertise in this field.