Bayer Group - Investor-Relations

BAYER ANNUAL REPORT 2011 BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS 21
Bayer employee Frank Schaell at the Xarelto tablet coating machine in the Leverkusen solids plant
Minimally invasive or “keyhole” surgical procedures
of this kind can be used to remove
thrombi and deposits or widen blood vessels.
However, it’s better if the blood fl ow isn’t obstructed
in the fi rst place – because blockages
in the vessels of the heart, brain or lung can
be life-threatening. A heart attack, stroke or
pulmonary embolism can have chronic effects
and severely impair a person’s quality of life.
Strategic focus on innovation
“Today, cardiovascular disease is already
among the most frequent causes of death
worldwide,” comments Bayer HealthCare
ceo Dr. Jörg Reinhardt. “The medical need
in this area will continue to increase due
to�global demographic change.” He says a
comprehensive approach is essential to
address this challenge for the long term.
“We need to view cardiovascular diseases in
a broader context.” Apart from education
on�achieving a healthier lifestyle, prevention
plays an increasingly important role. But
when an acute illness does occur, treatment
needs to be fast and thorough. After that,
the�important thing is to prevent secondary
illness and to improve and sustain the quality
of life.
“Part of our strategy is to gradually step up
the development of integrated packages to
sustainably improve the treatment of cardiovascular
diseases. This type of approach
will also help to keep health care costs at a
reasonable level in the future,” Reinhardt
explains.
One way to do this is by endeavoring to
prevent various types of venous and arterial
thromboses. If certain risk factors are present,
action can be taken to prevent the formation
of a thrombus that could block a
blood vessel. For example, patients undergoing
major surgery are given anticoagulants
as a precaution against venous thrombosis
or pulmonary embolism. Another use
for such medicines is to prevent strokes in
people with atrial fi brillation. More than six
66.4%
HealthCare
24.7%
CropScience
8.1%
MaterialScience
0.8% Reconciliation
Shares of research and
development expenses 2011 –
subgroups and reconciliation
(other companies)