SALES OF PLAVIX, NEW DRUGS BOLSTER BMS' EARNINGS

Bristol-Myers Squibb's (BMS) net income nearly doubled to $1 billion in the second quarter, driven by strong sales of it blood thinning drug Plavix and newer products Abilify and Reyataz.

Sales of Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) increased 26 percent to roughly $968 million in the second quarter of 2005 from $769 million in the same quarter of last year. The jump in Plavix sales resulted primarily from increased demand for mail-order prescriptions, as well as a smaller reduction in U.S. wholesaler inventory levels compared to the same period last year, BMS said.

Abilify's (aripiprazole) sales nearly doubled in the second quarter, rising to $240 million from $122 million in the same period last year. The antipsychotic drug's strong growth was driven by increased demand in the U.S. and Europe, BMS said.

HIV treatment Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate) also performed well during the second quarter, with sales rising 115 percent to $183 million, compared to $85 million in the second quarter of 2004. The Reyataz growth was attributed to higher monthly new prescription share in the U.S. and continued strong growth in Europe.