Bristol Myers Squibb: “In Italia for 80 years, with 42 molecules under investigation and 120 clinical trials”

Bristol Myers Squibb has 42 molecules currently undergoing clinical trials in Italia, covering a range of fields from oncology to haematology, from cardiovascular diseases to immunology and neuroscience. Over the last five years, the company has invested over 90 million euros in clinical research in Italy, and is currently involved in more than 120 trials across over 700 hospitals, involving more than 2,200 patients. These figures bear witness to Bristol Myers Squibb’s long-standing partnership with Italia.

“For 80 years, our research has focused on where it is most needed: in therapeutic areas that have marked decisive milestones in the evolution of medicine. From the availability of antibiotics to virological therapies, from treatments for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases to the latest innovations in immuno-oncology, we have redefined the treatment paradigm for many serious diseases” explains Regina Vasiliou, Vice President and General Manager of Bristol Myers Squibb Italia, whothe three-year period 2023–2025, on an annual average, contributed to generating €369 million of GDP in Italia, according to the impact assessment report drawn up by PwC. “Our responsibility,” adds Vasiliou, “is to continue building, together with the scientific community and the institutions, a path characterised by research, innovation and progress.” ““Globally, the strength of Bristol Myers Squibb’s pipeline lies in its breadth and depth, underpinned by innovative platforms and a constant commitment to therapeutic areas with the greatest unmet medical need,” says Cristian Massacesi, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. “We are proud of the strength of Italia’s clinical and academic ecosystem and of the contribution that Italian researchers and centres make to our global clinical development programmes.”

In oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb has introduced therapies that have marked key milestones in the history of cancer treatment, many of which are still widely used today. Among these is a drug belonging to the taxane class, developed in collaboration with the US National Cancer Institute. Subsequently, the company contributed to the revolution in immunotherapy by introducing checkpoint inhibitors into clinical practice, which has transformed the prognosis for metastatic melanoma: whilst five-year survival was less than 10 per cent ten years ago, it now exceeds 50 per cent. “Taxanes have revolutionised cancer treatment and remain cornerstones of chemotherapy to this day. In 2025, in Italia, there were an estimated 390,000 new cancer diagnoses, and over the last 10 years, there has been a 9% reduction in cancer deaths. Innovation, together with prevention and participation in screening programmes, has contributed to this result,” says Carmine Pinto, Director of Medical Oncology at AUSL-IRCCS in Reggio Emilia.

In haematology, Bristol Myers Squibb has made a decisive contribution to setting standards of care, starting with multiple myeloma, a field in which an immunomodulatory drug has been the cornerstone of treatment for years. The company’s research has led to the first CAR-T cell therapy approved in Italia for multiple myeloma and to another CAR-T therapy, available to patients with large B-cell lymphoma, the most common form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “Haematological cancers have often paved the way for innovative treatments, such as targeted therapies, which have subsequently also been used in solid tumours,” explains Armando Santoro, Director of the Cancer Centre at IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital (Rozzano). Therapeutic innovation in multiple myeloma over the last 25 years has been characterised by the introduction of drugs that act directly on plasma cells and the ‘bone marrow microenvironment’, foremost among which are immunomodulators. CAR-T cells – the patient’s own genetically modified lymphocytes – are the result of extraordinary work carried out in the laboratory and in clinical practice, and represent the cutting edge of immunotherapy.”

In the field of cardiovascular diseases, Bristol Myers Squibb introduced the first ACE inhibitor, which revolutionised the treatment of high blood pressure, and launched an antiplatelet agent that remained the global standard for the prevention of thromboembolic events for decades. Subsequently, a new-generation oral anticoagulant helped to redefine the prevention of cardiovascular events. In November 2025, another major milestone was reached with the approval of the first therapy that targets the mechanisms underlying hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. “In Italia, over 350,000 people are affected by cardiomyopathy, of whom more than 100,000 have hypertrophic forms,” emphasises Gianfranco Sinagra, President of the Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC). The hypertrophic form, caused by thickening of the heart muscle, has a strong genetic component. In fact, it is estimated that around 50 per cent of patients have a clear hereditary predisposition. Our country boasts a decade-long tradition in the treatment of genetic heart conditions, and centres specialising in this condition are spread throughout the country. Furthermore, Italian researchers have made a decisive contribution to the development of this innovative therapy, which is capable of providing concrete solutions to patients’ needs, as it can improve their quality of life by reducing the severity of symptoms and the need for surgery in more than 80 per cent of cases.”