Leaders in atrial fibrillation and wearable
technology to develop educational content around atrial
fibrillation to help identify and support those at increased risk
of stroke
The Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance and Fitbit today
announced at the TIME 100 Health Summit in New York that they are
working together to help drive timely diagnosis of atrial
fibrillation (AFib) with the aim of improving earlier detection in
individuals at increased risk of stroke. The BMS-Pfizer Alliance
and Fitbit plan to collaborate on the development of educational
content and guidance to support people at increased risk for AFib.
Upon submission and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
clearance of the AFib detection software on Fitbit devices, the
parties will aim to provide users with appropriate information to
help encourage and inform discussions with their physicians.
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“We’re in a new era of healthcare, where we’re not only focused
on developing treatments but also looking at the potential of
technology and data to help patients learn more about their
health,” said Angela Hwang, Group President, Pfizer
Biopharmaceuticals Group. “We are excited about wearables and how
our work with BMS and Fitbit may potentially help patients and
physicians detect and understand heart rhythm irregularities.”
AFib is the most common type of irregular heartbeat and is a
significant risk factor for stroke.1,2 Approximately eight million
people in the United States are projected to be affected by AFib in
2019.3 As the U.S. population ages, this number is expected to
rise, as adults aged 65 and older are at an increased risk of
developing the condition.3 Because AFib can be asymptomatic, it can
often go undetected, and some studies suggest that more than 25
percent of people who have the condition find out after they have a
stroke.1,4
“At Fitbit, we’re focused on making health more accessible and,
through our efforts with the BMS-Pfizer Alliance, we have the
potential to support earlier detection of atrial fibrillation, a
potentially asymptomatic condition that affects millions of
Americans,” said James Park, Co-founder and CEO of Fitbit. “With
our continuous, 24/7 on-wrist health tracking capabilities, and our
experience delivering personalized, engaging software and services,
we believe we can develop content to help bridge the gaps that
exist in atrial fibrillation detection, encouraging people to visit
their doctor for a prompt diagnosis and potentially reduce their
risk of stroke.”
Wearable technology has continued to become more integrated in
the healthcare landscape5 as people have recognized the value that
24/7 health tracking can have for people of any age or health
status, including those at increased risk for specific conditions.
Yet, those who use wearables to track their heart rhythm may lack
the education or guidance on what to do with the data gathered from
their device.6
“Too many people discover that they are suffering from atrial
fibrillation only after experiencing a stroke. In fact, some
studies suggest that this is true for more than 25 percent of
people who have the condition,” said Joseph Eid, M.D., Head of
Medical Affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “These efforts with Fitbit
exemplify not only our unwavering commitment to addressing the
evolving needs of patients with atrial fibrillation, but also our
dedication to advancing care by embracing technology as a part of
routine clinical practice.”
About the Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Alliance
The Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Alliance is committed to
driving education and awareness about atrial fibrillation and
venous thromboembolism. With long-standing cardiovascular
leadership, global scale and expertise in this field, the Alliance
strives to implement global, research-driven approaches to
illuminate and address the unmet needs around strokes related to
non-valvular atrial fibrillation, which are often fatal or
debilitating.7 Through collaborations with non-profit
organizations, the Alliance aims to provide patients, physicians,
and decision makers with the information they need to understand
and take appropriate action on risk factors associated with stroke
and other cardiovascular conditions.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
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. For more
information about Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or
follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , YouTube, Facebook and
Instagram.
Pfizer Inc.: Breakthroughs that change patients’
lives
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring
therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their
lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value
in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care
products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day,
Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to
advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge
the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our
responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative
biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care
providers, governments and local communities to support and expand
access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For
more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all
who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important
to investors on our website at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to
learn more, please visit us on www.pfizer.com and follow us on
Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us
on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
About Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT)
Fitbit helps people lead healthier, more active lives by
empowering them with data, inspiration and guidance to reach their
goals. Fitbit designs products and experiences that track and
provide motivation for everyday health and fitness. Fitbit’s
diverse line of innovative and popular products include Fitbit
Charge 3™, Fitbit Inspire HR™, Fitbit Inspire™ and Fitbit Ace 2™
activity trackers, as well as the Fitbit Ionic™ and Fitbit Versa™
family of smartwatches, Fitbit Flyer™ wireless headphones, and
Fitbit Aria family of smart scales. Fitbit products are carried in
approximately 39,000 retail stores and in 100+ countries around the
globe. Powered by one of the world’s largest databases of activity,
exercise and sleep data and Fitbit’s leading health and fitness
social network, the Fitbit platform delivers personalized
experiences, insights and guidance through leading software and
interactive tools, including the Fitbit and Fitbit Coach apps, and
Fitbit OS for smartwatches. Fitbit’s paid subscription service,
Fitbit Premium, uses your unique data to deliver actionable
guidance and coaching in the Fitbit app to help you reach your
health and fitness goals. Fitbit Health Solutions develops health
and wellness solutions designed to help increase engagement,
improve health outcomes, and drive a positive return for employers,
health plans and health systems.
Fitbit and the Fitbit logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Fitbit, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
Additional Fitbit trademarks can be found
www.fitbit.com/legal/trademark-list. Third-party trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and share your
Fitbit experience.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
regarding, among other things, the research, development and
commercialization of medical products and the Bristol-Myers
Squibb-Pfizer Alliance. All statements that are not statements of
historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on historical
performance and current expectations and projections about our
future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve
inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal
or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them
in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be
beyond our control and could cause our future financial results,
goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those
expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks,
assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others,
that the expected benefits of, and opportunities related to, the
BMS-Pfizer Alliance may not be realized by Bristol-Myers Squibb or
may take longer to realize than anticipated. No forward-looking
statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this
press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and
uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb’s business and
market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement
and risk factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as updated by
our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on
Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this
document are made only as of the date of this document and except
as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol-Myers Squibb
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Pfizer Disclosure Notice
The information contained in this release is as of October 17,
2019. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements contained in this release as the result of new
information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information about the
Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance and Fitbit plan to collaborate
on the development of tools, educational content and guidance to
support people at increased risk for atrial fibrillation (AFib), as
well as AFib detection software on Fitbit devices, including its
potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties
inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet
regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or
launch dates; whether and when applications may be filed in any
jurisdictions for AFib detection software on Fitbit devices;
whether and when any such applications may be approved by
regulatory authorities; decisions by regulatory authorities
impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other
matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential
of AFib detection software on Fitbit devices; and competitive
developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in
Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2018 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q,
including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and
“Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future
Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of
which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.
Fitbit Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties
including, among other things, statements regarding the future
initiatives of The Bristol-Myers Squibb-Pfizer Alliance with us,
and our ability to help users manage, monitor or improve their
health and wellness. These forward-looking statements are only
predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a
variety of factors, including the effects of the highly competitive
market in which we operate, including competition from much larger
technology companies; any inability to successfully develop and
introduce new products, features, and services or enhance existing
products and services; product liability issues, security breaches
or other defects; and other factors discussed under the heading
“Risk Factors” in our most recent report on Form 10-Q filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking
statements contained herein are based on information available to
us as of the date hereof and we do not assume any obligation to
update these statements as a result of new information or future
events.
1 CDC. Atrial Fibrillation Fact Sheet. Accessed March 2019.
Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_atrial_fibrillation.htm.
2 Cleveland Clinic. Know Your Risk Factors for Stroke.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/13398-know-your-risk-factors-for-stroke.
Accessed August 28, 2019 3 Colilla S, Crow A, Petkun W, Singer DE,
Simon T, Liu X. Estimates of Current and Future Incidence and
Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in the U.S. Adult Population.
American Journal of Cardiology. 2013;112:1142-1147 4 Freedman B,
Potpara TS, Lip GY. Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.
Lancet. 2016;388:806–817 5 Cheung CC, Krahn AD, Andrade JG. The
Emerging Role of Wearable Technologies in Detection of Arrhythmia.
Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2018;34:1083-1087. 6 Knowles B,
Smith A, Poursabzi-Sangdeh F, Lu D, Alabi H. Attending to the
Problem of Uncertainty in Current and Future Health Wearables.
Communications of the ACM. 2018:1-6. 7 Ben Freedman, Tatjana S.
Potpara, and Gregory Y H Lip, "Stroke prevention in atrial
fibrillation," The Lancet 388, no. 10046 (2016): ,
doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31257-0.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191017005136/en/
Bristol-Myers Squibb Media: Chrissy Trank, 609-252-5609,
christina.trank@bms.com Investors: Timothy Power,
609-252-7509, timothy.power@bms.com Pfizer Inc. Media:
Steven Danehy 212-733-1538, steven.danehy@pfizer.com
Investors: Ryan Crowe, 212-733-8160, ryan.crowe@pfizer.com
Fitbit, Inc. Media: Jen Ralls 415-941-0037,
PR@Fitbit.com
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