During Bayer's Global Prescription Medicines Day 2024, the latest advancements in Bayer's prescription medicine business transformation were showcased. It was revealed that Bayer is strategically focusing its research efforts on four core therapeutic areas: cardiovascular diseases, oncology, immunology, neurology, and rare diseases. Bayer also made significant progress in its R&D pipeline in 2023, submitting eight new drug clinical trial applications, with four drugs showing first-in-class potential expected to enter Phase II clinical trials by the end of 2024.
Of particular note is the emergence of cell and gene therapies, offering novel and potentially transformative treatment modalities with the promise of disease prevention or reversal through a single administration. Christian Rommel, Member of the Executive Committee and Head of Global Research at Bayer Prescription Medicines, stated that cell therapy and gene therapy represent two of the fastest-growing and competitive fields in modern medicine. Since 2020, Bayer has invested over €3.5 billion in establishing relevant technological platforms for the research and development of cell and gene therapies.
Bayer, along with its subsidiaries BlueRock and AskBio, is advancing a portfolio of preclinical and clinical-stage products. These competitive cell and gene therapies include seven projects at different clinical stages, with a focus on areas of high medical need.
Currently, congestive heart failure affects approximately 26 million people globally. AskBio's candidate gene therapy AB-1002 recently entered Phase II clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy and safety for the treatment of congestive heart failure through a single administration.
Meanwhile, BlueRock Therapeutics released data on the investigational therapy bemdaneprocel (BRT-DA01) after 18 months of treatment in patients with Parkinson's disease. Phase I clinical trials are ongoing, with preliminary data showing positive trends. These data also support plans to initiate Phase II clinical studies in 2024. Another gene therapy candidate is expected to initiate Phase II studies targeting Parkinson's disease patients later this year.
By advancing innovative therapies, Bayer also aims to increase treatment options for menopausal women and improve standard care. A compound in Bayer's late-stage development pipeline, elinzanetant, the first non-hormonal neurokinin-1,3 dual receptor antagonist for once-daily oral administration, is being developed to treat moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Recently, the pivotal Phase III clinical studies OASIS 1, 2, and 3 have all achieved positive top-line results. Bayer plans to submit this positive data to relevant regulatory agencies. Elinzanetant holds significant blockbuster potential and is expected to be launched in 2025.
