The beginning of the end: Eliquis sales forecast to plummet as EU patent expiry nears

GlobalData Healthcare

Wed, January 28, 2026 astatine 9:49 AM CST 3 min read

This year, income of Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) and Pfizer’s cause Eliquis (apixaban) are projected to diminution by 15.2% owed to the nonaccomplishment of its European marketplace exclusivity connected 19 May 2026. The BMS-Pfizer confederation has dominated the anticoagulant cause market, earning astir $82.6bn successful gross since 2011, according to GlobalData’s Sales and Forecast Database. However, with the expiry day accelerated approaching, the nonaccomplishment of Eliquis’ exclusivity volition inevitably people the beginning
of a large patent cliff.

Eliquis archetypal entered the European marketplace successful May 2011, pursuing MHRA approvals for assorted thromboembolic diseases, revolutionising thromboprophylaxis. The second-generation nonstop oral anticoagulant (DOAC) Eliquis prevents clot
formation done the nonstop and reversible inhibition of escaped and clot-bound origin Xa, a cardinal enzyme successful the clotting cascade. Unlike accepted anticoagulants, DOACs person importantly higher information profiles, with the reduced request for monitoring, mounting them isolated from accepted anticoagulants specified arsenic warfarin. Such factors person led to its takeover arsenic a first-line attraction oregon prophylaxis of assorted cardiovascular diseases, including pulmonary embolism and non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Figure 1 (below) highlights Eliquis’ planetary income growth, with a compound yearly maturation complaint of 108.3% since its emergence successful the European market. However, this incline is forecast to highest astatine conscionable nether $14.2bn successful 2025, with a predicted 15.2% driblet pursuing European expiry and the expected introduction of generics into the market. Overall, Eliquis’ income are predicted to diminution by 92.3% by 2030 successful examination to 2025. BMS and Pfizer person made attempts to widen Eliquis’ marketplace exclusivity, which was initially acceptable to expire successful September 2022, via a supplementary extortion certificate (SPC) filing. This hold has allowed for the procreation of astir $29.5bn truthful acold successful further revenue, efficaciously delaying the impending patent cliff.

With US patent expiry expected successful 2028, BMS and Pfizer are attempting to clasp US marketplace stock done their direct-to diligent Eliquis option, which they announced successful July 2025. This programme volition supply underinsured, uninsured, oregon self-pay
American patients a simplification of implicit 40% for their prescriptions. The program, which came into effect successful September 2025, volition purpose to mitigate incoming contention and grow Eliquis’ marketplace entree by targeting cash-paying patients, who represent up to 10% of the diligent population. Time volition archer what existent impacts this volition person connected the market, and if attempts to decelerate declining income volition beryllium successful.