Bayer Launches New ALEVE Web Site.

MORRISTOWN, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--May 27, 1999--

Site Invites Value Comparison of Competing Pain Relievers

Bayer Consumer Care, a division of Bayer AG Corporation, today announced the launch of its new ALEVE(R) Web site at www.aleve.com. Among other interesting features, the site invites consumers to register for a free ALEVE sample and to compare the value of ALEVE with that of six competing pain relievers.

ALEVE is a safe, long-lasting, over-the-counter pain reliever that offers the convenience of eight-to-12-hour dosing for effective, all-day relief of minor aches and pains, such as backache, muscle aches, headache and minor arthritis pain, with as few as two pills. ALEVE is the nonprescription-strength formulation of Anaprox(R), a fast-acting form of the medicine in the prescription pain reliever Naprosyn(R), trusted by physicians for more than 20 years.

Over the course of a year, creative teams at The Quantum Group, the consumer-healthcare-communications arm of CommonHealth, and at Savatar, which specializes in interactive and cross-channel communication, collaborated with the ALEVE brand team at Bayer to produce a dynamic, exciting, easy-to-navigate communication tool that would be of considerable value to consumers.

CommonHealth and Savatar belong to the WPP Group (LSE:WPPL.L; NASDAQ/ADR:WPPGY) of companies.

"Consumers want long-lasting relief, and they want it without having to take a lot of medicine," said Gus Braun, Senior Brand Manager at Bayer's Consumer Care Division. "But they also want to make certain the value equation is right.

"The new site helps consumers choose the right over-the-counter pain reliever -- one that works fast, stays strong all day long, is safe and is a good value for the money. The site also offers helpful tips on how to avoid and manage different kinds of everyday pains, from headaches to the minor aches and pains of arthritis, and provides a means for consumers to get frequently asked questions answered 24 hours a day. We think consumers and professionals alike will find it an easy and entertaining way to learn more about ALEVE," Mr. Braun added.

Bayer Consumer Care is a division of Bayer Corporation, a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences and chemicals. Bayer Corporation had 1998 sales of $8.1 billion and employs more than 23,000 people. Bayer Corporation is investing $15 billion in capital expenditures and research and development from 1995 through the year 2004. 1999 capital investment and R&D expenditures are projected to total $1.6 billion. Bayer Corporation, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $31 billion chemicals and health care group based in Leverkusen, Germany.