Executive Summary

It is a Germany multinational company that deals with pharmaceuticals and life sciences. It is also one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Its headquarters are in Leverkusen German and has been headed by Werner Baumann as Chief executive officer since the year 2016. Its areas of business includes Consumer health products, Human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, biotechnology products and agricultural products. 

Bayer Lawsuits;

• The Mirena Law suit

Mirena law suits accuse Bayer of hiding the side effects of the birth control device Mirena. Many women are claiming that it perforated their uterus, dislodge and causing pressure buildup. They accused the company and claim that mirena complications led to their life diminishing and uncertain of other future complications. The case is still on and no full agreement of settlement has been reached.

History of Bayer Pharmaceuticals

The company was established in 1863 in Barmen as a dyestuffs factory manufacturing synthetic dyestuffs. It was formed through the partnership of Friedrich Bayer together with Johann Friedrich Weskott. The company grew tremendously and by 1881, it had over 300 employees. 

Between the years 1881 and 1914, the company was transformed and changed into a chemical one internationally, then the company also built a scientific research laboratory which brought in new research standards to the company and internationally. This laboratory was used to produce the first medicine of the company called Aspirin by Felix Hoffman.

• Cipro, Levaquin & Avelox Lawsuits

Patients who took this antibiotic sued the company for the effects it caused and even others death. They suffered from aortic dissection that required surgery. They also incurred tendon problems and nerve damage. The case is not yet finalized and settlement not yet reached. From the past cases of the same nature, settlement were $700,000 jury verdict and if this reaches a conclusion it might go the same route of the amount or any other decided amount by the jury. This case is not affecting only Bayer pharmaceuticals but also other companies also that deal and supply pharmaceuticals like Johnson & Johnson and others.

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Subsidiaries

1. Monsanto

In June 2018, Bayer purchased Mosanto Company, a US company that deals with chemical and crop protection. This brought a wide range of exceptional ideas and skills on the field of seeds and traits. The cost of this purchase was 48 million Euros which pertained to intangible assets, plant and equipments and goodwill.

1. Bayer Zydus Pharma

This company was in joint venture with Bayer pharmaceuticals but Bayer had a 50% stake of shares. On May 2018, Bayer pharmaceuticals increased these shares to 75% at a purchase price of 28 million Euros which then agreed to take over the remaining 25% by 2021. 

Bayer Zydus Pharma is core in the Indian pharmaceuticals and focuses mainly on women health issues including oncology, cardiovascular diseases, diagnostic imaging and diabetes.

1. Cydectin Company

On January 2017, Bayer acquired the company which is in the United States which comprised of Cydectin pour on, oral injection and oral drench for cattle and sheep. It was purchased at a price of 158 million Euros which mainly comprised of goodwill and trademarks.

1. Schering Acquisition

Schering Company was founded in 1851 and by the year 2006, it had acquired a lot and had a turnover of 5 billion Euros and had employees over 20,000 in over 140subsidiaries worldwide. Bayer pharmaceuticals purchased much of the shares in 2007 at a cost of 14.6 billion Euros and took over it forming Bayer Schering Pharma.

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Products

The Bayer products can be categorized into three categories namely;

• Consumer health/Pharmaceuticals
• Animal Health 
• Crop Protection

Consumer Health/Pharmaceuticals;

These are the products that are majorly used by human being in medication. They are thousands of drugs produced by Bayer under this category. They include the following;

1. Afrin

 This is a consumer health product produced by Bayer that is used to treat cough and cold in both adults and children. It is used to relief nasal congestion caused by severe cough and cold.

1. Redoxon

This is another popular product produced by Bayer pharmaceuticals and sold all over the world to support human health. It supports the immune health of both the adults and the children.

1. Canesten

This is a Bayer pharmaceutical popular product which is very popular and useful in the human health sector. It is very essential in dealing with intimate health challenges and conditions like bacterial vaginosis, nail or athletes foot fungus. It provides relief from the unusual skin embarrassments.

1. Elevit

This is a consumer health product manufactured and distributed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. It is a pregnancy multivitamin and also it is a mineral supplement to the body of the pregnant mothers. It is highly formulated and made to meet all the nutritional needs of women who are in either of three stages i.e. trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding.

1. Aspirin

This is a pain reliever manufactured by Bayer pharmaceuticals and it is mainly used to relive or kill pain. Mostly common for headaches but also can be used to relieve pain of the muscles, joints and acute back aches. It is highly used to reduce damage to the human heart when there is heart attack.

1. Iberogast

This is a plant based medicine manufactured by Bayer pharmaceuticals that is used to serve many functions of health issues in human body. It helps solve problems like abdominal pains, cramps and heaviness, bloating, nausea and heartburn.

 Animal Health;

These are products manufactured and distributed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals specifically to treat animals either domestic or wild. There are products in this category and they include the following;

1. Veraflox

This is a popular product of Bayer pharmaceuticals which is used to treat animals. It is normally used to treat infections which include wounds and skin infections in dogs and cats.

1. Baycox

This product is used to treat animals. It is an anticoccidial parasiticide which is majorly used in veterinary and it has a wide range of uses in domestic animals like poultry, cattle and piglets.

1. Drontal

This is an animal drug manufactured by Bayer pharmaceuticals. It kills all intestinal worms which are most common found in dogs and cats.

1. Advocate

This is an endectocide which is used to treat animals. It is very effective against ecto and endoparasites which includes fleas, mites and lice with also other different types of worms.

Crop Protection;

This are drugs which are produced by Bayer pharmaceuticals which are used to treat crops and protect them from harmful nature. They include the following;

1. Serenade

This is a biological fungicide which is very effective on fire bright, sour rot, powdery mildew, white mold and bacterial spot. It is also very efficient on soil diseases such as rhizoctonia, pythium, phytophthora and fusarium.

1. Confidor

It is widely used in combating insecticide pests in more than 150 crops which also includes the common vegetables.

1. Agroeste

These are seeds and traits offering Brazilian farmers soy, sorghum and corn solutions and improve their productivity and get more returns.

1. Corvus

This is a residual and follar herbicide that is mostly used to combat weeds in corn. It belongs to the Adengo family brand of drugs.

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Product Recalls and Lawsuits

1. Recall of Alka-Seltzer Plus

In March 2018, Bayer pharmaceuticals recalled this product from the market which was sold in the markets of United States. This was because the ingredients in front sticker did not match the ingredients in the carton. This was to lead to consumers having side effects like allergy or cause other serious health issues that could have brought many challenges later. There were no reported cases of ill health caused by this product and therefore there was no any other litigation put against this product for its consequences before the recall.

1. $1.1 Billion Baycol Settlement

In 2005, the company Bayer pharmaceuticals settled for $1.1 billion to the affected patients who used the drug and were affected. Around 3000 death and injury claims were put across for the use of this drug that majorly focused on Rhabdomyolysis which is a very serious muscle condition which causes death.

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Settlements

1. $775 Xarelto Lawsuit Settlement

The xaretto users sued the three companies that manufacture xarelto including Bayer Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Company and Janssen pharmaceuticals. After taking the most popular ant-clotting drug, the users claimed that they suffered from wound leakage and internal bleeding. The companies won around six cases but agreed to settle the affected users for $775 in March 2019. The two companies agreed to pay half the amount each for this settlement.

1. $2.04 billion Yaz Settlement Lawsuit

In 2016 the company agreed to pay and settle over 10000 lawsuits that claimed the pill Yaz and its related Yasmin which are both for birth control. The pills caused gallbladder issues, blood clots, strokes and heart attacks. The company settled them with the $2.04 billion and the remaining case is willing to settle with another $1.5 billion.

Sources:

https://nastlaw.com/bayer/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer#Acquisitions

https://www.bayer.com/en/products-from-a-to-z.aspx

https://www.investor.bayer.de/en/bayer-group/ueberblick/acquisitions-and-divestitures/

https://www.drugwatch.com/manufacturers/bayer/