Bayer Vital is ranked third in the multispecialty “Best Pharmaceutical Companies Germany” 2022 ranking in the category “research-based, world-leading pharmaceutical companies by sales”. The first places were taken by Janssen-Cilag and Novartis. The latest innovation at Bayer is Nubeqa®, which received the award “The Most Innovative Product” from the urologists in the Rx category.
The non-steroidal antiandrogen Nubeqa® is approved for the treatment of non-metastatic prostate cancer. For the urologists, the main criteria across all products for their choice were improved efficacy (56%) and an innovative mode of action (54%).
Bayer: from aspirin to special therapeutics
Bayer Vital GmbH, Leverkusen, distributes the pharmaceuticals of the Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Health Divisions in Germany. Worldwide, Bayer generated sales of just under €18 billion in the pharmaceuticals sector in 2019, making it one of the few German pharmaceutical companies among the global TOP 21. The entire Group employs 104,000 people worldwide (2019), 25,000 of them in Germany.
Bayer Pharmaceuticals has a particularly good reputation among cardiologists (e.g. Adalat®, Baymycard®, Bayotensin®) and through special therapeutics for oncology, haematology and ophthalmology. The top-selling products include the anticoagulant Xarelto®, the coagulation factor Kogenate®/Kowaltry®, Eylea® for age-related macular degeneration and cancer drugs such as Stivarga®. With Nubeqa®, Bayer launched an antiandrogen for men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) in May 2020. The Pharmaceuticals Division also includes radiology with medical devices and contrast media. The Bayer subsidiary Jenapharm stands for contraception, menopause management, gynaecological diseases, dermatological and hormone preparations.
Bayer Consumer Health is one of the world’s leading suppliers of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and nutritional supplements with global brands such as Aspirin®, Alka-Seltzer®, Bepanthen® and Canesten®.
Research and development expenditure of the entire Group amounts to 5.3 billion euros (2019). In pharmaceuticals, the R&D share in relation to sales is 15.4%.
The Bayer Foundation awards various science and youth prizes, scholarships and maintains a Social Innovation Ecosystem Fund for Africa.
Nubeqa®: The oncologists’ most innovative product for prostate cancer
In Pharma Trend, Bayer Vital has long been one of the most sustainable and innovative pharmaceutical companies in Germany. The research-based company received the award “The Most Innovative Product” for the androgen receptor blocker Nubeqa® 2022 for the treatment of non-metastatic prostate carcinoma. The decisive factors for the urologists in awarding the prize were the good tolerability (“few side effects” (55%) and the improved efficacy 45%).
Multiple awards for Bayer Vital for innovation and sustainability
Since the start of the Pharma Trend benchmark study in 2000, Bayer Vital has received the “Golden Tablet” award several times for innovation and sustainability, the first time in 2005. In the Rx category, Bayer Vital received the “Most Innovative Product” award in 2001 for Yasmin®, in 2011 for Levitra® and in 2012 for Xarelto®, and in 2013 for Eylea®. In 2018, Canesten® followed in the OTC (pharmacist) category, and in 2020 Vitrakvi® and 2022 Nubeqa® in the Rx category.
Awards for innovation and sustainability since 2000:
- The Golden Tablet (2015, 2013 – 2011, 2005)
- Yasmin®(2001)
- Levitra®(2011)
- Xarelto® (2013, 2012)
- Eylea® (2014, 2013)
- Canesten® (2019)
- Vitrakvi® (2020)
- Nubeqa® (2022)
