Bayer HealthCare Sponsors Public Service

Announcement for World Federation of Hemophilia


Partnership intended to raise awareness about hemophilia worldwide through
“The Global Learning Series” public television program

BERKELEY, CALIF., and MONTREAL, QUEBEC (January 23, 2007) — The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals jointly announced today the distribution of a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) designed to raise awareness about hemophilia. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, which affects an estimated 400,000 people worldwide.

The PSA is a two-minute overview about the current state of hemophilia care and the role the WFH takes to improve treatment for people living with hemophilia throughout the world. The segment will air on public and network television stations throughout the United States and also will be featured on “The Global Learning Series” program later this year. Additionally, the PSA offers viewers an opportunity to contribute to the World Federation of Hemophilia, so that the WFH can further extend and improve its programs for patients.

“We are very grateful for Bayer’s support in producing this PSA. We believe increased awareness will help us meet the needs of patients and advance the state of care worldwide,” said Mark Skinner, president, World Federation of Hemophilia. “Our vision is that one day, treatment will be available for all those with inherited bleeding disorders, regardless of where they live. This requires more and more people to understand what hemophilia is all about.”

As many as 75 percent of people living with hemophilia worldwide do not receive adequate medical treatment. The WFH implements education and training programs in an effort to help more people receive medical attention. It also works closely with its industry partners like Bayer to find solutions to address patients’ needs — solutions such as nurse and caregiver education programs and product donations for developing countries.

“We strongly feel that the general public needs to have a better awareness of hemophilia because it is often a misunderstood disease,” stated Mike Mathews, vice president, Global Marketing, Hematology/Cardiology, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. “We hope the PSA will give people a greater understanding about what living with hemophilia really means, and how they can support the continuing improvement of care.”

“The Global Learning Series” is an education-focused, documentary-style program that produces visually compelling stories about global health, environmental, and business issues. It airs on network television stations throughout the United States and is distributed to public television stations nationwide and to Voice of America internationally. John McGuire, senior producer of Programming for “The Global Learning Series” commented, “We are very proud to partner with Bayer HealthCare and the WFH to educate the global medical community and the general public about this life-threatening condition.”

Contact:

Sreejit Mohan
Bayer HealthCare
510-705-5477
Sreejit.mohan.b@bayer.com


Debbie Hum
World Federation of Hemophilia
514-394-2832
dhum@wfh.org


John McGuire
Senior Producer
“The Global Learning Series”
561.338.7479 ext. 407


About Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. About 17,000 Americans have hemophilia, and about 400,000 people worldwide live with this disease. The disease is caused by deficient or defective blood coagulation proteins, known as factor VIII or IX. The most common form of the disease is hemophilia A, or classic hemophilia, in which the clotting factor VIII is either deficient or defective. Hemophilia B is characterized by deficient or defective factor IX.

About the World Federation of Hemophilia

The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) works in partnership with healthcare professionals and people with hemophilia, governments and regulators, and industry and foundations to improve hemophilia care throughout the world. Visit WFH online at www.wfh.org.

About Bayer HealthCare

Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. Bayer HealthCare generated sales amounting to some 9.4 billion euros and employed 33,800 people worldwide in 2005.

The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The new Pharmaceuticals division was established January 1, 2006, and comprises the former Biological Products and Pharmaceutical divisions. Pharmaceuticals now has three business units: Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology and Primary Care.

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

About “The Global Learning Series”

“The Global Learning Series” is education focused, issue-oriented, and non-commercial programming, and is independently produced and distributed directly to public television stations around the country. “The Global Learning Series” strictly follows the standards and practices of public television, and is distributed freely to public television stations nationwide. “The Global Learning Series” program is not affiliated with PBS. For program information, contact: www.thegloballearningseries.tv.