Bayer HealthCare delivers continued growth in Q3 2013

Bayer HealthCare has posted strong growth in all regions on a currency-adjusted basis during the third quarter of 2013.

Data from the Bayer group's financial report for the period showed the HealthCare division's sales rose by 0.5 percent year on year to 4.74 billion euros (4.04 billion pounds), with its pharmaceuticals business performing particularly well.

Newer products such as Xarelto, Eylea, Stivarga and Xofigo were the key drivers of growth, with Xarelto becoming the global leader in the new oral anticoagulant market, while progress was made on the development of the company's pipeline.

It is targeting sales of more than 1.4 billion euros for Xarelto, Eylea, Stivarga, Xofigo and Adempas for the whole year.

Bayer management board chairman Dr Marijn Dekkers said: "We estimate the combined peak sales potential of these products at more than 5.5 billion euros. There are even more projects with great potential in our pharmaceutical pipeline."

A sales total of 9.64 billion was reported for the group as a whole, which was broadly level with Q3 2012.