On February 24, 2021 Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) reported it has donated a total of $11 million to 56 nonprofit organizations focused on advancing health equity in the United States (Press release, Bristol-Myers Squibb, FEB 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234575509]). These organizations will deliver programs to improve access to high-quality care as well as increase disease awareness and education in racially and ethnically diverse and medically underserved communities, and to improve diversity in clinical research.

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The donations, awarded in response to a special request for proposals, leverage $11 million of the $150 million pledged by the company in August 2020 to advance diversity, inclusion and health equity.

"We are realizing our vision to transform patients’ lives through science as we build upon our company’s strong foundation of addressing global health disparities to become one of the world’s most inclusive biopharma companies," said Adam Lenkowsky, Senior Vice President, General Manager of U.S. Commercial at Bristol Myers Squibb. "We understand that the need has never been more urgent, and we have made it a priority to focus our capabilities and resources to eliminate the barriers to accessing high-quality care that exist for underserved and vulnerable populations."

He added, "In line with this priority, we have chosen organizations that have demonstrated a track record of innovative and effective work in health equity and strong ties to patients and communities. Individually, each is directing its expertise to address the root causes of inequities and to create sustainable solutions. Collectively, this funding initiative will effect change within the health care ecosystem to positively impact the equitable delivery of quality healthcare."

The grant recipients include U.S.-based patient advocacy and community-based organizations, health equity coalitions, medical societies, nonprofit healthcare institutions and others to fuel their health equity initiatives that support diverse populations including Black/African Americans, Latinx/Hispanic Americans, Asians, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and more. The full list can be viewed above.

The donations will fund development and delivery of innovative health equity programs in areas of high unmet need within therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Hematology, Immunology and Cardiovascular Disease. The organizations will track metrics, including the number of individuals served, demographics about the targeted population and others that demonstrate the positive impact of the donation. Evaluation reports will be provided every six months, and a final impact report issued at the program conclusion.

Commitment to Health Equity by Bristol Myers Squibb and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation

Recognizing the need to better serve and collaborate with an increasingly diverse U.S. population and underserved communities around the world, Bristol Myers Squibb and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation are taking concrete steps to accelerate their respective commitments to health equity and diversity and inclusion. Bristol Myers Squibb commits to providing an additional $50 million in health equity and disease awareness and education focused grants by 2025, increasing awareness of its patient support and affordability program in communities of need, and spending $1 billion with diverse suppliers by 2025. The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, commits to delivering a new clinical trial career development program for 250 new clinical investigators who are racially and ethnically diverse or who are committed to serving diverse and medically underserved communities, and to mentoring 250 racially and ethnically diverse medical school students to build a career pipeline with the goal of increasing diversity of participants in clinical research.