Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc. announced topline results of the phase III Aristotle trial of Eliquis. In this study of patients with atrial fibrillation and at least one additional risk factor for stroke, Eliquis met the primary efficacy objective of non-inferiority to warfarin on the combined outcome of stroke (ischemic, haemorrhagic or unspecified type) and systemic embolism. In addition, Eliquis met the key secondary endpoints of superiority on efficacy and on ISTH (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) major bleeding compared to warfarin.

Eliquis, a new oral direct Factor Xa inhibitor, is being developed by the alliance of Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer.

The companies expect to submit regulatory filings in atrial fibrillation in the US and Europe in the third or fourth quarter of 2011.

The detailed results of the Aristotle study will be presented during the “Hot Line” session on August 28, 2011, at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2011 in Paris.

Aristotle, a double-blind, multi-centre, head-to-head phase III trial, randomized 18,201 patients with atrial fibrillation from over 1,000 centres in about 40 countries. Patients were randomized to receive either Eliquis 5 mg twice daily (2.5 mg twice daily in selected patients) or dose-adjusted warfarin (titrated to a target INR range of 2.0 to 3.0).

Eliquis is the approved trade name for apixaban in Europe and the proposed trade name in the US and other countries. Eliquis is not approved for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer recently announced the first regulatory approval for Eliquis for the prevention of Venous Thromboembolic Events (VTE) in adult patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU).

Eliquis is being investigated within the Expanse clinical trials programme, which is projected to include nearly 60,000 patients worldwide across multiple indications and patient populations and includes a total of nine completed or ongoing, randomized, double-blind phase III trials, including Aristotle.

In addition to stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation and the prevention of VTE in patients who have undergone total hip or total knee replacement surgery, Eliquis is being investigated in phase III trials for the treatment of VTE and the prevention of VTE in hospitalized acutely ill medical patients.

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

Pfizer strives to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals and our diversified global health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world’s best-known consumer products.