Bayer Guns For Top-Three Pharmaceutical Seat In China

Greater China has been the fastest-growing region for Bayer HealthCare; its pharmaceutical business there increased 30 percent to achieve revenue of €1.8 billion in 2007 ($2.8 billion). The company attributes the success to its focus on OTC business. Generics, especially OTC drugs, will form the core of Bayer's growth in China after 2008 and it aims to be among the top three health care MNCs. However, some gaps need plugging: the firm has yet to launch in the country its top three blockbuster drugs, namely, Betaferon (interferon beta-1b), Yasmin (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) and Kogenate (recombinant clotting factor VIII). Bayer Schering Pharma plans to launch all its global heavyweights in China within three years and introduce over 20 new products within five years. (Click here for more - Chinese Language)