Bayer Sends Truckloads of Critically Needed Items to Hurricane Katrina Victims; Latest Relief Effort is in Response to Urgent Request from Louisiana State Senator.

PITTSBURGH -- Bayer Corporation announced today that it is donating two tractor-trailer loads of supplies and products to help Hurricane Katrina victims located in St. Bernard Parish, La. This area, among the most-devastated by the hurricane, is adjacent to New Orleans.

Bayer is sending non-perishable food, cleaning supplies and clothing donated by Pittsburgh-based employees, as well as thousands of cases of various over-the-counter products from Bayer's Consumer Care Division and hundreds of blood glucose monitors from Bayer's Diabetes Care Division. The two 18-wheeler trailers full of these items departed Bayer's Pittsburgh headquarters today, bound for Louisiana.

Bayer is responding to an urgent request for supplies by Louisiana State Sen. Walter J. Boasso, whose district includes St. Bernard Parish. The hurricane caused significant infrastructure damage, making it challenging to distribute supplies to those who need them most. Sen. Boasso also owns a shipping and distribution company, enabling rapid movement of key materials and products to some of the most-affected people.

"Several parishes in my district were devastated by Hurricane Katrina and are desperately in need of supplies," said Sen. Boasso. "We are very blessed to have a wonderful corporation like Bayer taking care of us in our time of need."

"Everyone at Bayer has been deeply moved by the disaster," said Dr. Attila Molnar, Bayer Corporation president and CEO. "We are pleased that we are able to tap into our distribution network to facilitate the delivery of much-needed items to this area."

This is the latest of Bayer's ongoing efforts to aid in the disaster relief effort. The company's previously announced product donations, which are distributed and dispensed through the American Red Cross, include Ascensia(R) blood glucose testing equipment, OTC products, including Bayer(R) Aspirin, Aleve(R) and Alka-Seltzer Plus(R), and other necessary supplies.

In addition, Bayer employees are supporting the relief effort through cash donations that are matched dollar for dollar by the Bayer Foundation. The contributions are then donated to the American Red Cross. To date, Bayer employees have contributed more than $220,000 to the relief fund.

"The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for the timely help given by the Bayer Corporation," said Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "The American Red Cross is the way neighbors help neighbors in disasters. We are profoundly grateful to Bayer for being good neighbors to the countless people displaced by Hurricane Katrina."

Bayer Corporation

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is part of the worldwide Bayer Group, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, as of April 2005, Bayer employed about 16,000 and had net sales in 2004 of 8.3 billion euros. Bayer's three operating companies - Bayer HealthCare LLC, Bayer CropScience LP and Bayer MaterialScience LLC - improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose and treat diseases, protect crops and advance automobile safety and durability.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Editor's Note: B-roll featuring footage of employees packaging donations, trucks leaving Bayer, and soundbytes from Bayer President and CEO Dr. Attila Molnar, will be available later today on Business Wire.