The ratings on New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. reflect its diverse product portfolio, promising new-drug pipeline, and solid financials. Bristol-Myers' portfolio remains diverse, with strong positions in the oncology, cardiovascular, and virology markets. The company's top-five-selling drugs accounted for roughly 45% of total sales in 2005, in line with its peers. Cardiovascular drug Plavix, an anti-platelet aggregator, leads the portfolio. The drug, in-licensed from sanofi-aventis, generated $3.8 billion in sales in 2005 and holds a nearly 90% share of prescriptions. The drug's patent doesn't expire until November 2011. Two generic drug companies have challenged the validity of the patent, though one company, Apotex Inc., has recently agreed to drop its challenge in exchange for royalties on the sales of Plavix.
