BMS And Johnson & Johnson Launch Cardiovascular Education Campaign, New Campaign Highlights Gaps in Thromboembolic Care

Bristol Myers Squibb has launched a new educational initiative titled “Change the Target. Change What’s Possible.”, created in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson, to support clinicians treating cardiovascular and thromboembolic diseases. The campaign focuses on the ongoing unmet need among patients who continue to face a high risk of blood clots despite existing treatment options, highlighting the importance of developing new therapeutic approaches to reduce one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.

“With heart disease and stroke among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, it is imperative to continue research in preventing these events,” said Clay Johnston, MD, PhD, MPH, co-founder, chief medical officer, Harbor Health in Austin, Texas. “Patients at risk for stroke and other thromboembolic events really need drugs that reduce the risk of dangerous clots without increasing their bleeding risk, and targeting factor XIa may open this possibility.”

The program draws attention to care gaps in atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention. About 40% of people with atrial fibrillation remain untreated or undertreated, while approximately one in four strokes are recurrent, many of which could potentially be avoided. Concerns over bleeding risks linked to current therapies are cited as a major factor contributing to insufficient protection.

"Despite advances in cardiovascular care, some patients with thromboembolic disease remain at high risk because current therapies may require difficult trade-offs between efficacy and bleeding,” said Tania Small, MD, senior vice president and head of Medical Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb. “A better understanding of the coagulation cascade has led to the identification of new targets, such as factor XIa, informing how we approach the research of thrombosis prevention while preserving healthy clotting.”

Although anticoagulant therapies have advanced, allowing more precise targeting of the coagulation cascade, blocking factors in the common pathway can interfere with normal clot formation and increase bleeding risk. The campaign emphasises the need for next-generation strategies that can better prevent thrombosis while preserving the body’s natural ability to form protective clots, ultimately improving safety and outcomes for patients receiving anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment.