Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a global biopharmaceutical company and Pfizer Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Eliquis (apixaban) for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE), in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery.

“Today’s FDA approval of Eliquis for DVT prophylaxis in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement is a significant milestone for this important medicine, which is also approved to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation,” said Brian Daniels, M.D., senior vice president, global development and medical affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “This approval reflects the continued commitment of the alliance to deliver new treatment options for patients and physicians.”

“As the number of hip and knee replacement surgeries performed in the US continues to increase, the risk of DVT following these surgeries remains a concern for physicians,” said Steven J. Romano, M.D., senior vice president and Medicines Development Group Head, Global Innovative Pharmaceuticals Business, Pfizer Inc. “Eliquis provides patients and physicians with a new treatment option that offers twice daily oral dosing and no routine coagulation testing, and is broadly accessible through hospitals and managed health care formularies.”

DVT, a blood clot that forms in a large vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis, can lead to PE when a portion or all of a blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, blocking one or more blood vessels. PE can lead to sudden death.

Based on recent data, each year in the US an estimated 719,000 total knee replacement surgeries and 332,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed. Patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery without thromboprophylaxis are at risk for developing DVT and PE.Guidelines recommend the use of anticoagulants for the prophylaxis of DVT and PE for most patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery.

“DVT, which may lead to PE, is a serious medical condition,” said Richard J. Friedman, M.D., FRCSC, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina. “The FDA approval of Eliquis gives U.S. orthopedic surgeons a new option for DVT prophylaxis in both hip and knee replacement surgery.”

This sNDA approval for Eliquis is supported by three clinical trials (the ADVANCE clinical trial program). The ADVANCE trials randomized more than 11,000 patients, with 5,770 receiving Eliquis and 5,755 receiving enoxaparin, to assess the safety and efficacy of Eliquis.

In December 2013, the FDA accepted for review another sNDA for Eliquis for the treatment of DVT and PE, and for the reduction in the risk of recurrent DVT and PE.

Eliquis is indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Eliquis is indicated for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE), in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery.

Eliquis (apixaban) is an oral selective Factor Xa inhibitor. By inhibiting Factor Xa, a key blood clotting protein, Eliquis decreases thrombin generation and blood clot formation. Eliquis is approved to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and for prophylaxis of DVT, which may lead to PE, in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery.

DVT is a blood clot in a vein, usually in the lower leg, thigh, or pelvis, which partially or totally blocks the flow of blood. PE is a blood clot blocking one or more vessels in the lungs. DVT causes multiple symptoms including pain, swelling, and redness, and more importantly, can progress to PE, which carries the risk of sudden death.

In 2007, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb entered into a worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialize Eliquis, 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.


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.