Press Release
Bayer HealthCare – A strong partner for cattle farmers and veterinarians
17. October 2006
Nice, October 17, 2006 – “The global cattle market is in a state of tremendous flux and will face producers of beef and dairy cattle all over the world with some major challenges,” anticipated Dr. Jan van Diest, Head of Bayer Animal Health in France, during his welcoming address to delegates at the International Bayer Cattle Symposium. Bayer HealthCare invited over 200 veterinarians and specialists in cattle management from all over the world to attend a high-caliber scientific event organized in conjunction with the 14th International Buiatrics Congress in Nice.
Van Diest highlighted the role of Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division as a research-based company which is responding to changes in the global cattle market and is seeking to support animal owners and veterinarians with new answers to their problems. Economic pressure is forcing farmers to produce a growing volume of meat and milk at ever lower costs in order to remain competitive. Manufacturers of veterinary drugs also need to adapt to this situation. This is not an easy task, since the length of time needed to develop a new drug is increasing in step with more stringent regulatory requirements. The leading suppliers of veterinary drugs nowadays invest around € 40 to 65 million to bring a new product to the stage of being granted marketing authorization, and the trend is an upward one.
Agustin Torres, Product Manager in the Food Animal Production section of Bayer Animal Health, commented: “Against this background, we have all the more reason to be proud of having developed a product that protects calves effectively against coccidiosis and the resulting diarrheal conditions. These problems cause considerable economic damage, and this can be reduced by using the new medication.”
At a satellite symposium focusing on “Coccidiosis and Neosporosis: New Insights”, Dr. Charlotte Maddox-Hyttel from the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research in Copenhagen, Denmark, warned of the insidious nature of coccidiosis, a disease entity whose role is still underestimated. Agustin Torres took this opportunity to underline once again the great importance for producers of beef and dairy cattle of providing effective therapy against coccidiosis for their animals.
About Bayer HealthCare AG:
Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. Bayer HealthCare generated sales amounting to some 9.4 billion euros and employed 33.800 people worldwide in 2005.
The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The new Pharmaceuticals division was established on January 1, 2006, and comprises the former Biological Products and Pharmaceutical divisions. Pharmaceuticals now has three business units: Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology and Primary Care.
Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.
Forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group 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 our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.



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