Research at Bayer
Research at Bayer HealthCare
Research and development at Bayer HealthCare focus on identifying and developing new active substances to treat diseases with a high unmet medical need. Bayer HealthCare, with R&D spending of EUR 1,742 million in 2008, accounted for 66 percent of all R&D expenditures in the Bayer Group.
In its internal research for active ingredients, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany* concentrates on four core areas: Oncology, Cardiology, Women´s Healthcare, and Diagnostic Imaging.The R&D activities of Bayer Schering Pharma are focused on the identification and development of new active substances for diseases with a high medical need.
Examples of new active ingredients from Pharmaceuticals research:
Current drug treatments of acute heart failure, called diuretic agents, support cardiac function, fight arrhythmia and remove excess fluid from the body. Bayer Schering Pharma is in the process of developing a promising new agent for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) called cinaciguat. With cinaciguat, a sGC-activator, a substance has been identified that activates the guanylate cyclase enzyme even when its function is impaired. This is important as the majority of patients with cardiovascular diseases suffer from a dysfunction of the nitrogen oxide (NO)-pathway.
Cinaciguat is currently being investigated for the treatment of ADHF. With this sGC-activator, Bayer Schering Pharma hopes to offer an improved treatment option for these patients. In initial clinical studies, the sGC-activator demonstrated promising evidence of efficacy and safety. Currently, cinaciguat is in Phase II studies and is expected to move to Phase III in 2010.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projects
Cinaciguat is currently being investigated for the treatment of ADHF. With this sGC-activator, Bayer Schering Pharma hopes to offer an improved treatment option for these patients. In initial clinical studies, the sGC-activator demonstrated promising evidence of efficacy and safety. Currently, cinaciguat is in Phase II studies and is expected to move to Phase III in 2010.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projectsRiociguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator developed for people with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a promising treatment option. This new compound has the potential to become a new treatment option for people with PH. The oral agent stimulates the sGC directly and independently from nitrogen oxide (NO), enhancing the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). A second messenger, which expands blood vessels, acts as an antihypertensive and conveys tissue protecting effects. Additionally, it enables the sGC to react more sensitively to the effect of the body’s own NO. Up until now there have been no therapies available with this innovative mode of action.
To date, clinical studies indicate a strong safety profile for this sGC stimulator – recently concluded Phase II studies showed encouraging results. In the study, 75 patients suffering from chronic thrombembolic hypertension (CETPH) or PAH used riociguat three times a day for a duration of 12 weeks. The drug was well tolerated and showed a high safety profile. Phase III trials of riociguat in these indications started end of 2008. Furthermore, the potential of riociguat is being investigated also to treat other forms of PH in Phase II studies.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projects
To date, clinical studies indicate a strong safety profile for this sGC stimulator – recently concluded Phase II studies showed encouraging results. In the study, 75 patients suffering from chronic thrombembolic hypertension (CETPH) or PAH used riociguat three times a day for a duration of 12 weeks. The drug was well tolerated and showed a high safety profile. Phase III trials of riociguat in these indications started end of 2008. Furthermore, the potential of riociguat is being investigated also to treat other forms of PH in Phase II studies.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projectsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a naturally occurring protein in the body whose normal role is to trigger formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) to support the growth of the body's tissues and organs. It has also been associated with the abnormal growth and fragility of new blood vessels in the eye, which lead to the development of wet AMD. The VEGF Trap-Eye is a fully human, soluble VEGF receptor fusion protein that binds all forms of VEGF-A along with the related placental growth factor (PlGF). VEGF Trap-Eye is a specific and highly potent blocker of these growth factors. Blockade of VEGF, which can prevent abnormal blood vessel formation and vascular leak, has proven beneficial in the treatment of wet AMD.
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of acquired blindness. Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either dry (nonexudative) or wet (exudative). In wet AMD, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes disruption and dysfunction of the retina creating blind spots in central vision, and it can account for blindness in wet AMD patients. Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 65 in the U.S. and Europe.
Regeneron and Bayer HealthCare initiated a Phase III global development program for VEGF Trap-Eye in wet AMD in August 2007. The companies are collaborating on the global development of VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of wet AMD, diabetic eye diseases, and other eye diseases and disorders.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projects
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of acquired blindness. Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either dry (nonexudative) or wet (exudative). In wet AMD, new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid. This leakage causes disruption and dysfunction of the retina creating blind spots in central vision, and it can account for blindness in wet AMD patients. Wet AMD is the leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 65 in the U.S. and Europe.
Regeneron and Bayer HealthCare initiated a Phase III global development program for VEGF Trap-Eye in wet AMD in August 2007. The companies are collaborating on the global development of VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of wet AMD, diabetic eye diseases, and other eye diseases and disorders.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projectsBlood clotting is a vital process of the body helping to close wounds. However, under certain circumstances, this process can cause severe to life-threatening diseases – so called thromboses.
An ideal anticoagulant should combine the following advantages: an oral administration, a predictable profile, a wide therapeutic window, a fixed dose without the need for routine coagulation monitoring, as well as no food or drug interactions. Rivaroxaban specifically inhibits Factor Xa in the coagulation system, thereby controlling the generation of thrombin, an enzyme that facilitates clotting.
Rivaroxaban currently is the most extensively studied oral factor-Xa-inhibitor in clinical development. The clinical trial program will evaluate the product in the prevention and treatment of a broad range of acute and chronic blood-clotting disorders and is expected to enroll more than 65,000 patients. In September 2008, rivaroxaban, administered as one tablet, once-daily, was approved in the EU under the brand name Xarelto® for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in adult patients after elective hip and knee replacement. Today, it is approved in this indication in more than 80 countries. In a large study program in this indication, rivaroxaban demonstrated higher efficacy than the current standard therapy, while maintaining a similar safety profile. It does not require routine coagulation monitoring. Furthermore, because of its oral administration and fixed dosage, treatment could be facilitated for both patients and doctors. Therefore, rivaroxaban could contribute to improve patients’ quality of life and has the potential to save lives..
In December 2009 the “Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2009” of the German President has been awarded to an R & D team from Bayer for the development of the novel oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projects
An ideal anticoagulant should combine the following advantages: an oral administration, a predictable profile, a wide therapeutic window, a fixed dose without the need for routine coagulation monitoring, as well as no food or drug interactions. Rivaroxaban specifically inhibits Factor Xa in the coagulation system, thereby controlling the generation of thrombin, an enzyme that facilitates clotting.
Rivaroxaban currently is the most extensively studied oral factor-Xa-inhibitor in clinical development. The clinical trial program will evaluate the product in the prevention and treatment of a broad range of acute and chronic blood-clotting disorders and is expected to enroll more than 65,000 patients. In September 2008, rivaroxaban, administered as one tablet, once-daily, was approved in the EU under the brand name Xarelto® for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in adult patients after elective hip and knee replacement. Today, it is approved in this indication in more than 80 countries. In a large study program in this indication, rivaroxaban demonstrated higher efficacy than the current standard therapy, while maintaining a similar safety profile. It does not require routine coagulation monitoring. Furthermore, because of its oral administration and fixed dosage, treatment could be facilitated for both patients and doctors. Therefore, rivaroxaban could contribute to improve patients’ quality of life and has the potential to save lives..
In December 2009 the “Deutscher Zukunftspreis 2009” of the German President has been awarded to an R & D team from Bayer for the development of the novel oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projectsSorafinib targets both the tumor cell and tumor vasculature. In preclinical studies, sorafenib has been shown to target members of two classes of kinases known to be involved in both cell proliferation (growth) and angiogenesis (blood supply) – two important processes that enable cancer growth. These kinases included Raf kinase, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, PDGFR-B, KIT, FLT-3 and RET.
Nexavar® is currently approved in more than 80 countries for liver cancer and in more than 90 countries for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer. In Europe, Nexavar® is approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have failed prior interferon-alpha or interleukin-2 based therapy or are considered unsuitable for such therapy. Nexavar® is also being evaluated by the companies, international study groups, government agencies and individual investigators as a single agent or combination treatment in a wide range of cancers, including lung cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projects
Nexavar® is currently approved in more than 80 countries for liver cancer and in more than 90 countries for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer. In Europe, Nexavar® is approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have failed prior interferon-alpha or interleukin-2 based therapy or are considered unsuitable for such therapy. Nexavar® is also being evaluated by the companies, international study groups, government agencies and individual investigators as a single agent or combination treatment in a wide range of cancers, including lung cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projectsThe positron emission tomography (PET) supports the practitioner to diagnose or exclude a variety of diseases. Disease-specific biologic processes can be visualized by PET on a molecular basis. The sugar molecule tagged with radioactive fluorine (F18-FDG) is an established PET-tracer and is used as a source of energy in the cell. During decay positrons are emitted with which the distribution of the sugar in the tissue can be analysed. Thereby, enhanced metabolic processes, e.g. in tumor cells, can be visualized. Disadvantage: Also inflamed tissue accumulates the tagged sugar.
Bayer Schering Pharma is already pursuing various promising approaches in molecular imaging. The company’s main focus of research is the diagnosis of neurodegenerative, oncological and cardiovascular diseases.
Since November 2009 the most advanced project, Florbetaben, is in phase III of clinical development. Florbetaben could offer the first possibility to support an early detection of Alzheimer’s disease with an in-vivo imaging method. The substance tagged with fluorine binds to amyloid beta, an accumulation of protein in the brain causally related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projects
Bayer Schering Pharma is already pursuing various promising approaches in molecular imaging. The company’s main focus of research is the diagnosis of neurodegenerative, oncological and cardiovascular diseases.
Since November 2009 the most advanced project, Florbetaben, is in phase III of clinical development. Florbetaben could offer the first possibility to support an early detection of Alzheimer’s disease with an in-vivo imaging method. The substance tagged with fluorine binds to amyloid beta, an accumulation of protein in the brain causally related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Fact sheets: Bayer Schering Pharma development projectsExtensive information on research and development at Bayer HealthCare:
Investor Day 2007
On June 19, 2007, the Bayer management presented the future strategy of Bayer HealthCare to the invited financial analysts at the Bayer Investor Day in Leverkusen, Germany. The topics included the integration of Schering AG, product and R&D strategy as well as comprehensive updates on the Bayer Schering Pharma pipeline and the Consumer Health business. You will find more information in the digital press kit.
On June 19, 2007, the Bayer management presented the future strategy of Bayer HealthCare to the invited financial analysts at the Bayer Investor Day in Leverkusen, Germany. The topics included the integration of Schering AG, product and R&D strategy as well as comprehensive updates on the Bayer Schering Pharma pipeline and the Consumer Health business. You will find more information in the digital press kit.
Animal Health
The main focus is the health of farm animals (cattle, pigs, poultry) and companion animals (dogs, cats, horses). Research and Development activities in the Animal Health Division concentrate on antibiotics, parasite control and active substances for the treatment of non-infectious diseases. This latter category includes kidney failure, pain therapy, cancer and inflammatory heart failure.
Medical Care
The main emphasis in the Medical Care Division is on strengthening the core product lines. A combination of internal development and collaboration with partners enables the division to offer customers user-friendly blood glucose monitoring systems that meet the individual needs of people with diabetes. One of the main areas of research is minimally invasive and continuous measuring technologies, the long-term aim being to allow monitoring without painful invasive blood sampling.
Consumer Care
Research and development activities in the Consumer Care Division focus on the identification, development and market introduction of non-prescription products. Research activities concentrate on support for current brands and the implementation of product-related, clinical and regulatory development strategies. This work opens up the possibility of exploiting new technologies, additional indications for existing drug products and the reclassification of previously prescription medications as over-the-counter products.
07.01.2008: 26th Annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, San Francisco
- Arthur J. Higgins, Chairman of the Board of Management BHC Presentation
(PDF 636 KB)
Further information on research at Bayer HealthCare can be found in our research scientific magazine:
21st edition
Tackling devastating diseases: Title StoryProtection for weak hearts: New treatments for heart failureProtein hunters in the brain: Molecular marker could support earlier and better diagnosisFighting cancer with tobacco: Personalized therapy - a new therapeutic strategy to combat lymph node cancerCooperation against cancer: Research alliance for better diagnosis and treatment of tumor diseasesDeep into the lungs: Potential new active substance formulation to help patients with cystic fibrosisOn the way to finding a top candidate: Bayer researchers build customized protein molecules for the treatment of serious diseasesThe blood simulator: Virtual drug tests increase patient safetyCurrent edition 21
20th edition
Fast track to safe drugs: Research programs for more effective drug developmentLungs under too much pressure: Riociguat - new active ingredient to combat difficult breathingRepairs in the nanocosmos: Otto Bayer Prize awarded to Professor Thomas CarellGlimmer of light for the eye: Artificial proteins to combat macular degenerationResearch networking: Bayer scientists involved in numerous international research collaborationsHope of rapid pain relief: New approaches to gynecological therapies for chronic women’s diseases20th edition19th edition
Anti-cancer medicineA vice-like grip on the cytoskeleton:Sagopilone shows promise in combating tumors
Good detective work: Searching for active substances using RNA interferenceTreating tumors by blocking hormones: New active ingredient for treatment of breast cancerThe replenishers: Cancer stem cells provide new understanding of tumor developmentFormulation research: Aspirin®Visualizing memory loss: Early identification of Alzheimer’sTiny Trojan horses: Nanocapsules transport active ingredients directly to their site of actionEarly protection: New study of acetylsalicylic acid in cardiovascular preventionThe sweet danger: Innovative blood glucose meters make life safer for diabeticsMultifaceted impact: Structural analysis of crystals is aiding in pharmaceutical resarchPortrait of a cancer researcher: “Only happy researchers are good researchers”19th edition18th edition
Thrombosis live: The vascular system in fine detailHelp for weak hearts: Cardiovascular disease Be calm, my beating heart: Substance which controls raised heart rates High-potential multitalent: Aspirin® 18th edition17th edition
16th edition
When genes are silent: An effective method could revolutionize the search for active ingredients Hunting molecules in 3D: Molecular modeling helps to optimize active ingredients Combating dangerous blood clots: Innovative thrombosis prevention 16th edition*
The names "Bayer Schering Pharma" or "Schering" as used in this website always refer to Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany, or its predecessor, Schering AG, Berlin, Germany, respectively.
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