Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) announced a significant expansion of its cost-reduction strategy during its fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday, targeting an additional $2 billion in annual expense cuts by the end of 2027. This new initiative builds upon the company's previous restructuring efforts, which impacted approximately 2,200 employees last year.
Chief Financial Officer David Elkins emphasized that the latest cost-cutting measures will focus on "operational efficiencies across multiple areas of the business." Unlike previous savings that were largely reinvested, these new reductions are expected to directly improve the company's bottom line, with half of the $2 billion in cuts planned for implementation this year.
The pharmaceutical giant's aggressive cost-cutting strategy comes as it faces significant revenue challenges due to patent expirations of key products. While Revlimid, the company's multiple myeloma treatment, already faces limited generic competition, BMS is preparing for even more substantial revenue losses as patents expire for two of its blockbuster drugs - the cancer immunotherapy Opdivo and the blood thinner Eliquis, which together generated nearly $26 billion in worldwide revenue last year.
Financial Performance and Market Impact
The company's fourth-quarter results presented a mixed picture. While BMS exceeded analysts' expectations for earnings per share, with strong performances from products including Eliquis, Camzyos (heart drug), and Sotyktu (anti-inflammatory treatment), its 2025 revenue forecast fell short of market projections. The company expects revenues of $45.5 billion in 2025, approximately $1 billion below analyst estimates, representing a 6% decline from 2024 levels.
Edward Jones analyst John Boylan noted that the lower-than-expected guidance "tarnished" what was otherwise a "strong quarter" for the company.
Strategic Growth Initiatives
CEO Chris Boerner emphasized that these changes will help transform BMS into a "leaner, more focused company." The pharmaceutical maker has been actively pursuing strategic acquisitions to offset upcoming revenue losses, including recent purchases of RayzeBio, Mirati Therapeutics, and Karuna Therapeutics. These acquisitions have strengthened BMS's pipeline in oncology and neurology.
Notably, the company's growth portfolio has shown promising results, with newer medicines such as Camzyos, the cell therapy Breyanzi, and immunotherapy Opdualag collectively achieving approximately 21% growth in 2024. The recently launched schizophrenia treatment Cobenfy, acquired through the Karuna deal, has also demonstrated strong initial market performance.
Cost Reduction Progress
BMS has already made substantial progress in its initial cost-reduction efforts, achieving approximately $1.1 billion in annual savings toward its original $1.5 billion target. The newly announced $2 billion cost-cutting initiative represents a significant escalation of these efforts, reflecting the company's determination to maintain financial stability during its upcoming patent cliff challenges.
