Bayer HealthCare voices commitment to MS community

Bayer HealthCare is committed to helping patients and physicians in the multiple sclerosis (MS) community, it has asserted.

On March 31st 2009, the company announced a strategic alliance with Genzyme, which has now received approval from the relevant regulatory bodies.

The latter has been granted the license of Bayer’s haematological oncology products and has started selling many of them already ? including Campath/MabCampath (alemtuzumab), Fludara (fludarabine) and Leukine (sargramostim).

Worldwide distribution and development rights for alemtuzumab will be handed back from Bayer to Genzyme, but the drug will still be co-developed for its use in treating patients with multiple sclerosis. Both companies will co-promote the medication globally.

Gunnar Riemann is a member of Bayer HealthCare’s executive committee and noted the partnership confirms the company’s commitment to those affected by the illnesses.

He commented: “This transaction provides greater long-term profitability for two of our most important franchises – MS and oncology.”

Meanwhile, Bayer Healthcare announced this month it had begun to enrol patients into its phase III trials of Nexavar (sorafenib) tablets.

The firm is assessing the drug alongside Onyx Pharmaceuticals for its effectiveness in managing non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.