Bayer Furthers Global Efforts to Lead Fight Against Vector-Borne Diseases

PRESS RELEASE

Leverkusen, Germany, March 23, 2015— According to the World Health Organization (WHO) vector-borne diseases, carried by fleas, ticks, and other vectors, are a major public health threat with more than 1 billion people infected and more than 1 million dying each year, and “…these diseases are entirely preventable(1) .”

For 10 years, Bayer HealthCare (BHC) Animal Health has engaged a global audience of experts, veterinarians, and One Health stakeholders on Companion Vector-Borne Diseases, or CVBD (formerly ‘Canine’ Vector-Borne Diseases). Each year these efforts generate global awareness, while advancing science and innovation through global, collaborative efforts.

“In our 10th year, the fine-tuning of our campaign to ‘Companion’ Vector-Borne Diseases represents our deeper commitment to integrating One Health concepts into the CVBD framework,” said Prof. Norbert Mencke, DVM, and Head of Global Communications BHC Animal Health. “By definition, ‘companion’ includes animals and people, in an ecosystem—which is how zoonotic transfer of vector-borne diseases may occur between animals and people. These diseases are entirely preventable and our company’s attention on this topic advances our life sciences approach and deepens our commitment to ‘Science For A Better Life’.”

This year’s CVBD World Forum Symposium takes place in Barcelona, Spain (22 — 25 March 2015). The Forum’s headline social responsibility program: “One Health: joining efforts for a healthier world,” and press event will be taking place at the historic Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on 24th March 2015.

For the first time in its history, the CVBD Web Conference will launch in the United States (22 and 23 April 2015). “Hosting the CVBD Web Conference in the U.S. emphasizes the global importance in raising awareness of what we can do to prevent the spread of companion vector-borne diseases,” said Dr. Norbert Mencke. “Even the economic impact of a vector-borne disease, such as Lyme disease in the United States, is estimated to be over $3 billion annually(2)! The spread of these diseases, combined with their economic burden, only affirms our commitment to prevent companion vector-borne diseases.”

About Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD)

Companion vector-borne diseases (CVBD) are a growing international public health threat. These diseases, transmitted by blood-feeding ectoparasites, include ticks (Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and hemoplasmosis), fleas (canine bartonellosis and feline rickettsiosis), and sand flies (leishmaniosis). They are known to veterinarians and public health professionals throughout the world and in some cases also have zoonotic consequences.

About the Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD) World Forum & Symposium

The CVBD World Forum, a working group of leading international experts, meet at least once a year at the International CVBD® Symposium to discuss current scientific findings as well as future trends and needs concerning the distribution, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and prevention of CVBD®. The main goal of the CVBD® World Forum is to exchange knowledge and findings about ectoparasite-pathogen-host interaction as well as characterisation and assessment of pathogen and vector distribution in order to increase awareness for the specific regional risks of CVBD® and to foster preventative measures. The CVBD® World Forum is supported by Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division, a specialist in the field of parasite prevention.

About the Companion Vector-Borne Diseases (CVBD) Web Conference

The CVBD web conference is supported by Bayer HealthCare's Animal Health Division, a specialist in the field of parasite prevention. This 5th CVBD web conference is designed to engage information seekers, experts and specialists in veterinary medicine, human health and medicine, and public health to raise scientific awareness of zoonosis, One Health and its global impact. More information atwww.cvbdwebconference.com.

About Bayer HealthCare

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of around EUR 20.0 billion (2014), is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 60,700 employees (Dec 31, 2014) and is represented in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.healthcare.bayer.com.