News

News 2008

January 2008	New high-potential biofuel crop Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), Bayer CropScience AG and Daimler AG plan to jointly explore the potential application of jatropha in the biodiesel industry. An agreement to this effect was signed by the companies in January 2008. The three cooperating partners regard jatropha – a tropical plant from the Euphorbia family that grows even in poor soil – as a promising alternative energy feedstock for the production of biodiesel. Biodiesel derived from jatropha nut kernels has properties similar to those of biofuels obtained from oilseed. It is also characterized by a positive co₂ balance and can thus contribute to climate protection. The companies are seeking to develop clearly defined production and quality standards for jatropha-based biofuel. 1:51 min.
January 2008	Nexavar® approved in Japan In January 2008, Bayer received marketing authorization in Japan for Nexavar® for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common form of kidney cancer. Nexavar® is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor jointly developed by Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which targets both the tumor cell and tumor vasculature. In Japan, Nexavar® is the first approved oral targeted therapy for metastatic RCC. Bayer submitted an application for approval for the liver cancer indication in September 2007 and received the promise of a priority review from the Japanese health authorities. 1:36 min.
January 2008	Antitrust proceedings with polymers All the proceedings reported in the past concerning rubber, polyester polyols, polyether polyols, urethanes, urethane chemicals and other feedstocks for urethane end products in which penalties were expected have since been wound up. Most recently, in January 2008, the European Commission imposed a fine of €28.87 million against Bayer for breaching the antitrust legislation in the field of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. It is expected that additional civil antitrust lawsuits will be filed against Bayer in Europe.
March 2008	Court decision against Bayer’s Yasmin® patent In April 2005, Bayer Schering Pharma filed a suit against Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Barr Laboratories Inc. in the U.S. federal court alleging patent infringement by Barr for the intended generic version of Bayer Schering Pharma’s Yasmin® oral contraceptive product in the United States. In June 2005, Barr filed its counterclaim seeking to invalidate Bayer Schering Pharma’s patent. In early March 2008, the U.S. federal court invalidated Bayer Schering Pharma AG’s ’531 patent for Yasmin®. Bayer has appealed against this ruling.
January 2008	Award for Bayer Sustainable Development Report A study published in January 2008 by the prestigious Roberts Environmental Center at McKenna College in Claremont, California, United States, found the Bayer Sustainable Development Report 2006 the best in the world in its sector out of a total of 29 sustainability reports from chemical companies. In an international online vote by the online service provider “CorporateRegister.com,” the Bayer publication was also voted the sustainable development report with the greatest credibility from 156 sustainability reports from companies worldwide.
April 2008	Support for hemophilia patients To celebrate World Hemophilia Day on April 17, 2008, Bayer Health- Care donated €250,000 to the World Federation of Hemophilia (wfh) and more than 950,000 international units of Kogenate® fs, an anti-hemophilic factor (recombinant) for the treatment of hemophilia. With these donations, Bayer renewed its commitment to the hemophilia community. In the last four years, Bayer has contributed more than €1 million to the wfh. Through its annual World Hemophilia Day, the wfh aims to increase awareness of the needs of patients with hemophilia and improve their care. The activities for hemophilia patients are an expression of the company’s social commitment. Together with various partners, Bayer HealthCare has for many years been championing better health care around the world. 1:31 min.
May 2008	Foundation laid for zero-emission building in India In May 2008, Bayer laid the foundation for the first office building to be built in line with the new “EcoCommercial Building” concept. An administration and exhibition building for Bayer is currently being built near New Delhi in India and is scheduled for completion mid-2009. The new building is designed for zero emissions and will consume 70 percent less electricity than other local business complexes. This innovative climate concept for commercial buildings is being developed and implemented by Bayer MaterialScience and partners. 1:17 min.