“Aspirin, long hailed as a wonder drug, is constantly
opening up new possibilities and indications,” says
Dr. Gisela Latta, Senior Science Manager for Bayer HealthCare’s
Consumer Care Division. Of particular note according to Latta
is the drug’s highly successful use in the prevention
of secondary heart attack and stroke, because in this way
it can extend lives – including potentially that of
Angelika Franz, who suffers from heart disease.
Dr.
Gisela Latta is an acknowledged expert
on Aspirin® at Bayer HealthCare.
One in five deaths worldwide is attributable to cardiovascular
disease. Angelika Franz almost
became one of these statistics when extreme stress in her job
caused her to suffer a heart attack and stroke. Today she strictly
follows her doctor’s instructions to reduce the risk
of another
infarction. That means taking her medicines daily, avoiding
stress, losing weight, exercising more and eating a healthy
diet. Preventing heart attacks is also a topic very familiar
to Dr. Gisela Latta, Senior Science Manager for Bayer HealthCare’s
Consumer Care Division, whose job revolves around acetylsalicylic
acid, the active ingredient in Aspirin®. Latta finds this
substance no less fascinating now than when she began working
with it more than 16 years ago. “There’s no other
drug that’s been around for so long yet is still so full
of surprises,” she says.
What started out as a simple remedy to alleviate the symptoms
of rheumatism has since become one of the world’s best-known
medicines. And the unparalleled career of acetylsalicylic acid
is far from over. Almost every day there are reports of new
potential indications and mechanisms of action.
An outstanding example is in the area of heart attack and stroke
prophylaxis. For secondary prevention, scientists at Bayer HealthCare
developed Aspirin® Cardio, a low-dosage tablet that is resistant
to gastric juices and releases the active ingredient gradually.
Heart
attack patient Angelika Franz: “I’m
doing well now –
thanks to the right treatment”
The product is currently showing growth rates of up to 30 percent.
In Switzerland, where it was first launched, Aspirin® Cardio now
holds a significant share in the market, and in Japan, too,
it is the market leader in its segment. Aspirin® Cardio
is approved in more than 35 countries – from Argentina
to Taiwan – for reducing the risk of secondary heart
attack or stroke.
Aspirin®
tablets (below right) for the world market are produced
in modern facilities at Bitterfeld, Germany (top). The
photo below left shows a test simulating how long it takes
for the active ingredient to be released in the body.
However, extending the life cycles of established medicines
through selective post-marketing development is only one factor
in the company’s commercial achievements. About half of
Bayer’s research expenditures are currently made to develop
new health care products – and with great success.
At the end of 2005, Bayer HealthCare was granted marketing
authorization in the United States for Nexavar®, a new
medicine to treat advanced kidney cancer. Nexavar® is
expected to be approved in Europe in the second half of
2006 (see cover picture caption), and Bayer plans to develop
the active ingredient for the therapy of other tumors
as well. The product is considered to have “blockbuster”
potential, which means it could achieve total annual sales
of over EUR 1 billion. A new oral drug to prevent and treat
thromboembolic diseases is believed to have similar potential.
This substance is currently in phase III clinical testing
for a once-daily dose.
Bayer is also optimistic for its early-stage development
candidates. Three of these projects are expected to be transferred
to phase III clinical testing by the end of 2006.
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