Bristol-Myers Squibb has posted net income of $969 million for the third quarter, up 2%, while revenues climbed 11% to $5.35, helped by yet another strong performance from its bloodthinner blockbuster Plavix.

Plavix (clopidogrel) turnover was up 8% to $1.79 billion, while sales of the antipsychotic Abilify (aripiprazole) rose 14% to $691 million. However, the antihypertensive Avapro/Avalide (irbesartan) was down 29% to $216 million.

As for the firm's HIV drugs, sales of the Sustiva (efavirenz) franchise rose 5% to $359 million, and Reyataz (atazanavir) was up 4% to $391 million. Revenues from Baraclude (entecavir) for hepatitis B climbed 36% to $311 million.

Sprycel (dasatanib) for leukaemia leapt 47% to $211 million, while Orencia (abatacept) for rheumatoid arthritis increased 27% to $233 million. The cancer agent Erbitux (cetuximab) was up 8% to $172 million, while the recently-launched melanoma drug Yervoy (ipilimumab) contributed $121 million. One of the most striking performances was that of Onglyza (saxagliptin) and the recently-launched Kombiglyze (saxagliptin/metformin), which together delivered $127 million in sales.

Chief executive Lamberto Andreotti said “I am quite pleased with the company’s diverse achievements", noting that "we had strong sales and earnings growth in the quarter". He added that B-MS is "excited by the strength of the Phase III data" presented recently for Pfizer-partnered Eliquis (apixaban) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, saying the drug "could play a key role in the company’s future".