Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Resources
    • Voices
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Bayer Shedding 12,000 Jobs, Exiting Animal Care Business

By Mike Botta | November 29, 2018

In a strategic move, Bayer plans to cut as many as 12,000 jobs over the next few years, shed its animal care business, and exit from the Coppertone and Dr. Scholl’s consumer product lines.

Most of the job cuts will come from operations in Germany, according to the company, which employs some 118,000 workers globally.

Bayer acquired U.S. seed and weed-killer maker Monsanto Co. this year. It says with the “synergies expected from the acquisition of Monsanto” and other efficiency and structural measures, including the job cuts, “Bayer anticipates annual contributions of 2.6 billion euros from 2022 on.”

Bayer announced that it aims to strengthen its core life science businesses through the moves to enhance productivity and innovation while significantly improving competitiveness.

 “We have made very good progress with Bayer’s strategic development in recent years. As we now proceed with these measures, we are laying the foundation to sustainably enhance Bayer’s performance and profitability,” said Werner Baumann, chairman of Bayer AG’s Board of Management. “With these measures, we are positioning Bayer optimally for the future as a life science company.”

By shedding its Animal Care unit, the company plans to allocate additional resources to its core businesses of Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, and Crop Science. 

In addition to the previously announced divestment of prescription dermatology products, Bayer will “review its strategic options in the coming months with a view to exiting the sun care (Coppertone) and foot care (Dr. Scholl’s) product lines,” while focusing on profit growth in its core Consumer Health categories.

The Consumer Health unit focuses on self-care, with products including Alka-Seltzer to treat heartburn, Miralax and Phillips for constipation, and Iberogast for irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia. Other brands in the unit include Claritin antihistamine for allergy relief, along with Bayer Aspirin and Aleve for pain relief.

In the Pharmaceuticals division, planned measures include a restructuring of internal R&D activities. “Resources freed up through the reduction of internal capacities are to be directed toward strengthening investment in collaborative research models and external innovations,” according to the company. 

Within the hemophilia business, the introduction of a number of new products has led to a significant increase in competition. To remain competitive in the segment, Bayer has decided not to utilize the factor VIII facility it has built in Wuppertal, Germany, and to focus all recombinant factor VIII production in Berkeley, California.

In addition to the planned portfolio measures, Bayer intends to improve its cost structure, accelerate access to future technologies, and achieve greater efficiency across its supporting functions and services.

(Sources: Bayer; select information from Associated Press reporting)

Related Articles Read More >

This is a screenshot from a Varda Space Industries promotional video showing a space capsule with the company's logo docking onto a satellite.
Varda raises $187M Series C for drug manufacturing in space
This is the logo of Hikma.
Hikma to spend another $1B on US manufacturing, R&D
Great Point Partners logo.
Great Point Partners acquires majority stake in Eutecma to fuel sustainable cold chain growth
Driving success in fast-paced high-tech pharma construction projects
“ppw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news, technologies, and developments in Pharmaceutical Processing.

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • DeviceTalks
  • MassDevice
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • MEDICAL TUBING + EXTRUSION
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medtech100 Index
  • R&D 100 Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Resources
    • Voices
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE