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Bayer Schering Pharma Extends Research Portfolio in the Field of Cancer-Related Targets

License Agreement with Celera Corporation on five cancer target molecules

Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Celera Corporation, California, USA, providing Bayer Schering Pharma with access to five cancer-related targets for therapeutic development and in-vivo diagnostic imaging. These therapeutic targets were identified by Celera's proteomics discovery platform.

June 29, 2009

Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer Schering Pharma will pay Celera a one-time fee for the exclusive access to the five targets. Additional payments are due upon achievement of certain development and commercial milestones. Further, upon commercialization of a product Celera is entitled to royalties based on net sales of a product.

“This agreement allows us to expand our existing research portfolio in the area of cancer-related targets,” said Prof. Khusru Asadullah, MD, Head of Target Discovery at Bayer Schering Pharma. “We look forward to exploring the full potential of these promising target candidates with regard to therapeutic interference for anti-tumor therapy as well as in in-vivo diagnostic imaging.”

“This agreement combines the strength of our novel proteomics target discovery platform with Bayer Schering Pharma's expertise in research and development,” said Steve Ruben, Ph.D., vice president of proteomic research at Celera. “We believe this new relationship with Bayer Schering Pharma allows us the flexibility to advance part of our broad pipeline of validated targets for additional future value.”

About Alemtuzumab / Campath

Campath® is approved in the United States as a single agent for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). In the EU, MabCampath® is approved for the treatment of patients with B-CLL for whom fludarabine combination chemotherapy is not appropriate. The product was launched in its oncology indication in 2001 in the US, where it is marketed by Bayer Schering Pharma Inc. as Campath, and in Europe, where it is named MabCampath. Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to a specific target, CD52, on cell surfaces and directs the body’s immune system to destroy those cells. It is the first and only monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with B-CLL.

About Leukine

Leukine® (sargramostim) is a growth factor that helps fight infection and disease in appropriate patients by enhancing immune cell function. Leukine was approved in the United States in 1991, and is marketed by Bayer Schering Pharma. Leukine is the only growth factor approved in the US for use following induction chemotherapy in older adults with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) to shorten the time to neutrophil recovery and reduce the incidence of severe and life-threatening infections and infections resulting in death. Leukine has also been approved in the US for use in four additional indications: myeloid reconstitution following allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT), peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization and subsequent myeloid reconstitution in patients undergoing PBSC transplantation, and bone marrow transplantation failure or engraftment delay.

About Fludara

Unlike alkylating cytotoxic chemotherapies, Fludara®, a purine nucleotide analog, inhibits the synthesis of new DNA, thus preventing leukemia cells from multiplying. The intravenous (i.v.) formulation of Fludara was first approved in 1991 and is available in 98 countries worldwide as a second-line therapy for B-CLL patients who have failed to respond to previous treatment with alkylating agents. In addition, Fludara i.v. has been approved as a first-line therapy of B-CLL in 62 countries. In 29 countries, Fludara i.v. is also approved for the second-line treatment of low grade non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (lg-NHL). The oral formulation has the same effect as the i.v. formulation and was approved in Europe in 2001.