Bayer Corporation Donates More Than $4 Million to Hurricane Relief.

BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1998--More than $4.2 million in drugs, medical supplies, water storage equipment and financial relief is being provided to Central America's hard-hit areas by Bayer Corporation.

Some of the aid, which includes more than 65,000 doses of tetanus hyperimmune globulin, thousands of doses of its Cipro antibiotic, and cases of Bayer Aspirin and One-A-Day vitamins, will be distributed through the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic in Nicaragua. Bayer is also providing aid through the American Red Cross, the Brother's Brother Foundation and other relief organizations.

"The poor hygienic and sanitary conditions that are prevalent after a major disaster like Hurricane Mitch are breeding grounds for hepatitis, tetanus and other diseases," said David Ebsworth, Ph.D., President of Bayer's Pharmaceutical Division. "Our BayTet hyperimmune globulin can prevent infection and our antibiotics can help health care workers in the field treat those already infected."

Rates for tetanus immunization in Central America are very low, creating a high risk for tetanus infection. The hyperimmune globulin provides active antibodies that help fight infection. The devastation caused by Mitch left three million people in Honduras and Nicaragua without homes, with little or no food, and with no source of clean water.

An International Effort

In addition to donations from Bayer Corporation, other members of the global Bayer Group are contributing money, medicine and other products to help Central America protect its people and rebuild its infrastructure. Large-scale donations from Bayer's parent company in Germany, as well as donations from Bayer in Canada and Guatemala, are also flowing into Central America.

Bayer Corporation has a strong history of charitable giving through the Bayer Foundation and community programs at individual sites. In 1997, Bayer supported the building of the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic in La Reforma, Nicaragua. The clinic provides health care services for Nicaraguans, many of whom had never seen a doctor prior to the clinic's opening. The clinic survived the flooding, landslides and rain and is busy providing medical care to local residents.

Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences, chemicals and imaging technologies. The company had 1997 sales of $9.3 billion and employs more than 26,000 people. Bayer Corporation, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $32 billion chemical and pharmaceutical company based in Leverkusen, Germany.

Bayer Biotechnology, located in Berkeley, California is the Worldwide Biotechnology Center for Bayer Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division. The Biotechnology Center is responsible for the discovery, development, and process development of recombinant protein drugs and gene therapy for all of the Bayer Pharmaceutical Product Development Units (PDUs) and Therapeutic Research Areas (TRAs).