Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced charitable donations totaling more than $1 million to be granted between 2014 and 2016 to seven nonprofit organizations that support patients with cardiovascular disease. The donations will fund the independent development of innovative educational materials about stroke risk reduction in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The materials, accessible to both patients and caregivers, will address disease awareness, identification of signs and symptoms, access to care, appropriate treatment options, shared decision making and medication adherence. 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 charitable donation to support their independent educational initiatives.
"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," said Christoph Koenen, vice president, U.S. Medical, Cardiovascular, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "We are proud to support these organizations in their efforts to help educate and empower patients and caregivers."
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of irregular heartbeat. It is estimated that more than 5.8 million Americans have AF. One of the most serious medical concerns for individuals with AF is the increased risk of stroke, which is five times higher in people with NVAF than in those without it. In North America it is estimated that 98 percent of patients with AF have NVAF. NVAF is a type of AF that is not due to rheumatic mitral heart valve disease, a prosthetic heart valve, or a repairing of the heart's mitral valve.
"These seven nonprofit organizations 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," said Brian Klee, group lead, U.S. Medical Affairs, Cardiovascular, Pfizer. "The Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer Alliance is honored to be able to support these organizations in providing innovative, educational resources to both patients and caregivers."
About the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer Alliance
In 2007, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb entered into a worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialize apixaban, an oral anticoagulant discovered by Bristol-Myers Squibb. This global alliance combines Bristol-Myers Squibb's long-standing strengths in cardiovascular drug development and commercialization with Pfizer's global scale and expertise in this field.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.
About Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world™
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us.