Bayer Biological Products Honored with Prestigious Biotechnology Award American Chemical Society's Biochemical Technology Division to present Bayer BP with Industrial Biotechnology Award for continuous perfusion technology used in manufacture of Kogenate(R) products RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer Biological Products (BP) today announced it has been selected by the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Biochemical Technology Division as the 2003 winner of the Industrial Biotechnology Award. The award, one of the most prestigious in the biotechnology industry, honors organizations for achievements in commercializing novel biochemical technologies. The Biochemical Technology Division of ACS will present the award to Bayer BP for its continuous perfusion technology used in the manufacture of Kogenate(R) FS and KOGENATE(R) Bayer (Antihemophilic Factor [Recombinant], Formulated with Sucrose). Specifically, the award recognizes the Process & Technology Development Group at the Berkeley, Calif., manufacturing facility and Bayer Technology Services in Leverkusen, Germany. Letters of reference supporting Bayer BP's nomination were submitted to the Biochemical Technology Division of ACS by leading researchers in mammalian cell culture. Comments from the nomination process noted the innovation and practical application of the continuous perfusion technology to the manufacturing process. Additionally, nominating letters cited how the process is advancing the technological level of cell culture processing, and positions Bayer BP as a true leader in technology and engineering. Bayer BP also was lauded for its openness in discussing the technology in publications and at conferences to further advance the field of bioprocessing. The award will be formally presented at the 227th annual meeting of the ACS March 28 - April 1, 2004, in Anaheim, Calif. Dr. Konstantin Konstantinov, senior director, Process and Technology Development, Bayer BP, will receive the award on behalf of the Bayer BP team and present an overview of the continuous perfusion process. The presentation, titled "Continuous Perfusion Technology for the Production of Therapeutic Proteins Using High-Density Mammalian Cell Cultures," will cover the continuous perfusion process and how it improves efficiency and productivity in the manufacture of Kogenate(R) products. "The entire team at Bayer BP is extremely honored to receive this award. We work every day to enhance the manufacturing process for our Kogenate(R) products, and this recognition for our continuous perfusion technology is both an honor and strong motivator to continue our efforts in this area," said Dr. Konstantinov. Joseph Akers, president, Bayer Biological Products Division, commented on the importance of this achievement. "This is tremendous recognition for our technology teams. The continuous perfusion technology is but one example of our extensive strategic investments in research and application of new technologies to our manufacturing processes. As a leader in the industry, we must remain active in developing new technologies to further shorten cycle times, increase productivity and release efficiencies, and ensure reliable supply of the safest possible products for the global hemophilia community." Continuous Perfusion Process The continuous perfusion technology is utilized during the initial stage of Kogenate(R) manufacturing, known as fermentation. During fermentation, cells that have been modified to produce the human factor VIII molecule, which will become Kogenate(R) FS, are cultured in vessels called fermentors. Continuous perfusion technology enables the cultivation of these cells in high concentrations in small fermentation vessels over extended periods of time. Continuous harvest of the proteins also is accomplished with cells returned to the fermentor for continued protein production using cell retention technology developed by Dr. Hans-Jurgen Henzler and colleagues at Bayer BP's Wuppertal, Germany, research center.Additionally, the process improves yields of very fragile proteins since they do not remain in the fermentor as long as in more traditional fed-batch processes. As a result, higher productivity of the factor VIII molecule is achieved in a more efficient manner. Increasingly, biotechnology companies are discovering the advantages of continuous perfusion technology and following Bayer BP's lead in this field. About Kogenate(R) FS/ KOGENATE(R) Bayer Kogenate(R) FS/KOGENATE(R) Bayer Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Formulated with Sucrose, is a recombinant factor VIII treatment for hemophilia A that offers a more convenient administration by utilizing a 2.5 mL diluent, the smallest among available factor VIII products. Kogenate(R) FS/KOGENATE(R) Bayer does not use albumin in its purification or formulation and includes a solvent/detergent viral inactivation step, thereby further reducing the potential risk of viral transmission. Kogenate(R) FS/KOGENATE(R) Bayer is manufactured at Bayer BP's state-of-the-art biotechnology facility in Berkeley, Calif. About Hemophilia Approximately 400,000 people around the world have hemophilia. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. The disease is caused by deficient or defective blood coagulation proteins, known as factor VIII or IX. The most common form of the disease is hemophilia A, or classic hemophilia, in which the clotting factor VIII is either deficient or defective. Hemophilia B is characterized by deficient or defective factor IX. About Bayer HealthCare Bayer HealthCare AG, a subgroup of Bayer AG with sales of approximately 9.4 billion Euro in 2002, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry. The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diagnostics, and Pharmaceuticals. More than 34,000 people are employed by Bayer HealthCare worldwide. Our aim is to discover and manufacture innovative products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Our products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing, and treating disease. Information about Bayer Biological Products Division can be found at http://www.bayerbiologicals.com/ . 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. DATASOURCE: Bayer HealthCare CONTACT: Tricia McKernan, +1-919-316-6316, or fax, +1-919-316-6673, , for Bayer HealthCare Web site: http://www.bayerbiologicals.com/

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