BAYNEWS - The Bayer Press Server

Tuesday - September 22, 2009

Leading-edge medical research and development:

Bayer researchers nominated for the “Deutscher Zukunftspreis” awarded by the German Federal President

Development of the novel anticoagulant rivaroxaban commended / Three research and development teams on shortlist

The Rivaroxaban team: Dr. Frank Misselwitz, Dr. Dagmar Kubitza and Dr. Elisabeth Perzborn (from left)

Berlin / Leverkusen, September 22, 2009 – A Bayer research team has been nominated for the “Deutscher Zukunftspreis” 2009, an award conferred by the German Federal President for achievements in technology and innovation. The team developed the novel oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban (Xarelto®). The three teams on the shortlist for the final decision were announced today at Bellevue Palace by the German Secretary of State, Dr. Gert Haller. A jury of experts selected the most significant submissions from numerous prestigious entries. The German Federal President, Horst Köhler, will announce the final decision on December 2, 2009, in Berlin.

Dr. Frank Misselwitz, Dr. Elisabeth Perzborn, Dr. Dagmar Kubitza and their teams have developed a new molecule for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolism: rivaroxaban. Thromboembolism is a serious disease affecting millions of people every year – often with a fatal outcome. In the western world, venous thromboembolism kills more than twice as many people as breast cancer, prostate cancer, HIV/Aids and road traffic accidents combined.

“The nomination for the “Deutscher Zukunftspreis” 2009 is a major commendation which fills us all with pride,” said Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, a member of the Bayer AG Board of Management, whose responsibilities include innovation, technology and environment. “Our Bayer team has shown that excellent research is the basis of our country’s innovative strength and competitiveness.”

The German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) nominated the Rivaroxaban project team for the “Deutscher Zukunftspreis”. Rivaroxaban is an anticoagulant with a novel mechanism of action. It selectively targets a pivotal stage in the blood clotting process and inhibits the activated enzyme Factor X, which plays a key role in the development of thrombosis. Rivaroxaban offers patients and doctors major advantages over the current standard therapies. Studies have shown the superior efficacy of rivaroxaban in preventing venous thromboembolism following elective hip and knee replacement surgery in adult patients. In addition, rivaroxaban is administered in tablet form and does not have to be injected like the current standard therapies.

About venous thromboembolism (VTE)
Blood clots can break apart and travel through the bloodstream, blocking blood flow to vital organs. VTE includes DVT, a blood clot in a deep vein (usually in the leg), and PE, a blood clot in the lung, both of which are serious, life-threatening – but often preventable – conditions. Patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery are at high risk for VTE because during hip or knee replacement procedures, the large veins of the leg that carry blood back to the heart can be damaged, significantly increasing the risk of developing a clot. In fact, venous blood clots occur in 40-60 percent of patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery who do not receive preventive care. In the five largest EU-member states, approximately 450,000 total hip - and approximately 300,000 total knee replacement surgeries are being conducted annually. In the EU, there are in excess of 1.5 million blood clot events annually and these are responsible for killing some 544,000 people each year.

About rivaroxaban
Rivaroxaban was invented in Bayer’s Wuppertal laboratories in Germany, and is being jointly developed by Bayer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. Rivaroxaban is approved in the European Union for the prevention of VTE in adult patients undergoing elective hip or knee replacement surgery. Rivaroxaban is marketed under the brand name Xarelto®. Other approvals have been granted worldwide, in countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Mexico and Singapore. To date, Xarelto® has been launched in more than 45 countries around the world by Bayer HealthCare.

The extensive clinical trial program supporting rivaroxaban makes it the most studied oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor in the world today. More than 65,000 patients are expected to be enrolled into the rivaroxaban clinical development program, which will evaluate the product in the prevention and treatment of a broad range of acute and chronic blood-clotting disorders, including VTE treatment, stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome, and VTE prevention in hospitalized, medically ill patients.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. The company’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time Bayer creates value through innovation, growth and high earning power. The Group is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank. In fiscal 2008, Bayer employed 108,600 people and had sales of EUR 32.9 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.0 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 2.7 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Further information:
www.deutscher-zukunftspreis.de
www.xarelto.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.