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of the uterus. In Europe, Bayer HealthCare has
launched a drug product for the treatment of endometriosis
which is also approved in some countries
in Latin America and Asia/Pacific.
The Specialty Medicine Business Unit offers innovative
therapeutic options to markedly improve the
quality of life for people suffering from severe, chronic
and life-threatening diseases. Some 2.5 million
people worldwide suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS),
a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous
system usually occurring in episodes. Bayer Health-
Care was one of the first companies to offer a causal
treatment for this automimmune disease that reduces
the frequency of attacks and in this way can slow
progression of the disease considerably.
Hemophilia A is a rare genetic blood coagulation
disorder that can be effectively treated with blood
coagulation Factor VIII. The Pharmaceuticals Division
is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of drug
products to treat this hereditary disease.
Crucial improvements have been achieved in tar-
geted cancer treatments – therapies that inhibit cell
division and simultaneously disrupt the blood supply
to the tumor. Nexavar, an oral drug containing the
active ingredient sorafenib, is approved for the
treatment of renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular
carcinoma in many countries. It is also undergoing
studies to investigate its suitability in other forms of
cancer such as breast and thyroid cancer or as an
adjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular
carcinoma.
Another promising cancer drug is regorafenib, which
was granted regulatory approval in the United States
for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in Sep-
tember 2012 and for the treatment of gastrointestinal
stromal tumors (GIST) in February 2013. Here, too,
further therapeutic options are being investigated.
Radium-223 dichloride is an investigational alpha
particle-emitting pharmaceutical in development for
the treatment of castrate-resistant prostate cancer
with bone metastases. It was filed for regulatory
approval in the United States and Europe in
December 2012.
Another promising drug that was recently launched
is Eylea, a solution for intravitreal injection containing
the active ingredient aflibercept and used for the
treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration,
which is now available in this indication on the
world’s main markets. Another important indication
for which the drug has been filed for regulatory
approval in Europe is occlusion of the central retinal
vein, which can lead to blood clots and edema in the
retina. Other studies are being conducted to investigate
the use of aflibercept in various diseases of the
ocular fundus.
The Pharmaceutical Division’s products are primarily
distributed through wholesalers, pharmacies and
hospitals. In addition, products are also co-developed
and co-marketed in partnerships with other
companies.
PHArMACEuTiCAlS DIVISIOn
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