Bayer HealthCare announces global availability of twelve tests on the ADVUA 1200 Chemistry System – drugs of abuse and immunoglobulines

The ADVIA 1200 now matches Bayer’s total chemistry menu of 78 unique methods on the ADVIA® 1650 and 2400 analyzers.

Monday - February 6, 2006, Leverkusen – Bayer HealthCare, Diagnostics Division, a member of the Bayer Group (NYSE: BAY), announced today the worldwide availability of Immunoglobulin (Ig) tests of IgA, IgG, and IgM; and the worldwide availability of drugs of abuse (DAU) tests on the ADVIA 1200® analyzer – matching Bayer’s total chemistry menu of 78 unique methods on the ADVIA® 1650 and 2400 analyzers.

The three new Ig tests of IgA, IgG, and IgM are now available worldwide on the ADVIA 1200. IgG, the main circulating immunoglobulin and the only immunoglobulin which crosses the placenta, can be used to detect chronic liver disease, Grave’s disease, and parasitic diseases. IgA is the second most common immunoglobulin in human serum (after IgG) and can be associated with various disease-related conditions such as heavy chain disease, chronic infections, and cirrhosis of the liver. IgM tends to confine within blood vessels and is associated with liver disease, infections, and protein-losing syndromes.

The nine tests for drugs of abuse available worldwide include cannabinoid (THC), opiate (300 & 2000), benzodiazepine, methadone, phencyclidine, propoxyphene, cocaine, amphetamine and barbiturate and can be tested on all three analyzers offering any size laboratory the ability to perform initial patient screening for use of illegal drugs.

Drug abuse is a serious societal and economic concern worldwide. Most recent data collected by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme demonstrates the severity of drug abuse globally and estimates that:
- Around 8 million people abuse opiates/ heroin, mostly in South East and South West Asia;
- Some 13 million people abuse cocaine worldwide, with the highest prevalence reported in the United States;
- 141 million people consume cannabis annually, the most-widely abused drug in all parts of the world;
- 30 million people abuse amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). High prevalence rates are found in western Europe, Australia, and some Latin American countries.

Bayer HealthCare’s new, all-liquid assays are designed for quick and effortless testing by laboratory professionals for some of the most common and most-widely abused illegal substances.

The ADVIA 1200 features a small footprint, which allows it to fit comfortably in any laboratory. With the speed of 1200 tests per hour, the ADVIA 1200 System can keep up with workload requirements whether it is acting as a primary analyzer or as a backup to another system. The System uses the same reagents, calibrators and controls as the other members of the ADVIA Chemistry family and is based on the same proven reliability.

According to Tom Warekois, Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing for Bayer HealthCare’s Diagnostics Division, “The availability of DAU and immunoglobulin methods on the ADVIA 1200 offers mid-sized and specialty laboratories a compact platform with reliable and productive testing capabilities for testing patients. Tests can now be performed on all three leading automated chemistry systems, confirming Bayer’s commitment to the quality of the methods on a common menu across the ADVIA Chemistry line of instruments.”

About the ADVIA® 1200 Chemistry Systems
The ADVIA® 1200 System has capacity for 44 methods on-board and performs routine chemistry tests, special chemistry, specific proteins, therapeutic drug monitoring tests, drugs of abuse, and toxicology for total workstation consolidation and unparalleled efficiency. Combined with the ADVIA 1650 and 2400 systems, the ADVIA 1200 delivers synergies of sample handling, connectivity and system functionality to provide a complete clinical chemistry solution.

About the ADVIA® 1650 and 2400 Chemistry Systems
Bayer’s ADVIA® 1650 and 2400 Chemistry Systems provide high speed, automation-compatible testing platforms with a comprehensive menu of more than 60 assays including general and special chemistry, specific protein, therapeutic drug monitoring, as well as drug of abuse methods and other applications. With open channels for user-defined applications, ADVIA Chemistry Systems offer unparalleled, cost-effective workstation consolidation.

About Bayer HealthCare AG
Bayer HealthCare AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry. In 2004, the Bayer HealthCare subgroup generated sales amounting to some 8.5 billion Euro.

The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. Since January 1, 2006 the new Pharmaceutical Division consists of the former Biological Products and Pharmaceutical Division and now comprises three business units: Hematology/Cardiology; Oncology and Primary Care.
Bayer HealthCare employed 35,300 people worldwide in 2004.

Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture innovative products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating disease.

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Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F).The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Contact Information

Dr. Gisela Lenz

Diagnostics/Diabetes Care

Bayer HealthCare AG

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