Research at Bayer

Research at Bayer HealthCare

Research in the division Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany* concentrates on Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology, Women’s Healthcare, Primary Care and Diagnostic Imaging. The main focus is on therapeutic areas which appear particularly promising in terms of innovation.

Examples of new active ingredients from Pharmaceuticals research:

Factor Xa inhibitor

BAY 59-7939 is under development as an oral inhibitor of the blood coagulation Factor Xa and is currently being investigated for the prevention and therapy of thromboembolic diseases (venous thrombosis). There is a clear medical need for improved therapy options for these disorders. As an orally administered medication, BAY 59-7939 could be particularly useful for patients who require anticoagulation (inhibition of the blood's ability to clot) in both the in-patient and out-patient setting or long-term prophylaxis. A Phase III study investigating the prevention of thrombotic emboli following major orthopedic surgery was started in December 2005. Phase II studies with BAY 59-7939 in acute therapy of venous thrombosis and to prevent strokes associated with atrial fibrillation are continuing. Joint development work on BAY 59-7939 with Johnson & Johnson started in October 2005.

Nexavar

BAY 43-9006, developed jointly by Bayer and Onyx and registered under the worldwide proprietary name Nexavar®, is a novel anticancer drug which can suppress tumor growth through a combination of two inhibitory mechanisms. Nexavar® blocks two key positions in the tumor cell, thus inhibiting cell division in the tumor and cutting off its blood supply. In 2004, the U.S. regulatory authority FDA awarded fast-track status to our development candidate BAY 43-9006 and classified it as an orphan drug (which confers marketing exclusivity on drugs used to treat less common disorders) for the treatment of an advanced form of kidney cancer. Orphan drug status has also been granted in Europe by the European regulatory authority EMEA. The American authority FDA approved Nexavar® tablets for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma in December 2005. During 2005, Bayer HealthCare and Onyx initiated Phase III studies in patients with advanced liver cancer and skin cancer, and further Phase II trials with other tumor types. Additionally, the start of a Phase III program for non-small cell bronchial carcinoma (NSCLC) was announced in December 2005.

In the Diabetes Care Division, research is focusing on strengthening the core product lines and on expanding into fast-growing and profitable market segments. These segments are being addressed with user-friendly blood glucose measuring devices which cater to the individual needs of people with diabetes. The Division is also investing in technologies to allow continuous blood glucose monitoring and, in the longer term, to eliminate the need for blood sampling. In this context a licensing agreement with Sontra Medical Corporation has been extended; the company's ultrasound-based SonoPrep® technology increases the permeability of the skin.

Research in the Animal Health Division targets antibiotics, parasiticides and products to treat non-infectious diseases such as kidney failure and congestive heart disease.

The vascular system in fine detail – Thrombosis live, 18th edition

Cardiovascular disease – Help for weak hearts, current 18th edition

Substance which controls raised heart rates – Be calm my beating heart, current edition 18

New active substances relax the vascular muscles – For an easy heart, 17th edition

An effective method could revolutionize the search for active ingredients – When genes are silent, 16th edition