In the latest dribble, the German healthcare and agrochemicals giant told Reuters that in future its pharma pipeline will focus on cardiovascular disease, neurology, rare diseases and immunology, while de-emphasizing women’s health, a field it first focused on with the acquisition of the former women’s health specialist Schering in 2006.

Stefan Oelrich, head of the Pharmaceuticals division, said that while the Jasmin-branded oral contraceptives and the Mirena intrauterine device inherited from Schering will take a back seat in the company’s future corporate drugs strategy, Bayer is still committed to clinical-stage products, including elinzanetant to treat vasomotor symptoms during menopause. Here it projects peak sales of more than €1 billion.

The pharma chief pointed to recent acquisitions that will position Bayer to become a major player in cell and gene therapy.

In the nearly 20 years it has owned Schering franchise – which also had a significant position in oncology – Oelrich acknowledged that Bayer’s own research into therapeutics for women has not met expectations.

At the time, Schering was Bayer’s largest-ever acquisition. The then-integrated pharmaceuticals and chemicals group, at the urging of the Berlin-based pharma’s management, rode up from Leverkusen to the nation’s capital as a “white knight” to snatch the company from the jaws of Germany’s Merck, which was attempting a hostile takeover with a view to widening its own women’s health franchise.

As yet, Bayer has given no indication that it may seek to unload the franchise.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist