Among the segment's top products, the anticoagulant Xarelto? achieved by far the highest growth rate (Fx adj. plus 265.9 percent) following its market introduction in further countries and indications. Sales of Aspirin? Cardio to prevent heart attacks rose by 12.3 percent (Fx adj.), largely thanks to the steady expansion of marketing activities in China. Business with the hormone-releasing intrauterine device Mirena? (Fx adj. plus 9.4 percent) developed positively in all regions, especially in the United States due to higher volumes.

Sales of the segment's two best-selling products - the multiple sclerosis drug Betaferon?/Betaseron? (Fx adj. plus 4.2 percent) and the blood-clotting product Kogenate? (Fx adj. plus 5.2 percent) - also increased further. Sales of the YAZ?/Yasmin?/Yasminelle? line of oral contraceptives receded by 5 percent (Fx adj.), primarily as a result of generic competition in Western Europe. However, business with this product group developed positively in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sales of the Consumer Health segment advanced by 4.2 percent (Fx& portfolio adj.) to 7,809 million euros, with all regions and divisions contributing to this growth. Bayer's non-prescription medicines business (Consumer Care) performed particularly positively, achieving above-market sales growth. The Bepanthen?/ Bepanthol? skincare line developed successfully, especially in Russia and Brazil, moving forward by 13.9 percent (Fx adj.).

Business with the antifungal Canesten? expanded by 7.8 percent (Fx adj.). The Medical Care Division raised sales of the Contour? line of blood glucose meters by 8.5 percent (Fx adj.). However, sales of the contrast agent and medical equipment business matched the prior year. The Animal Health Division benefited from the positive development of the Advantage? line of flea, tick and worm control products (Fx adj. plus 10.6 percent).

EBITDA before special items of HealthCare grew by 7.8 percent to 5,068 million euros (2011: 4,702 million euros), primarily as a result of the positive business development in both segments and of currency effects.

Strong year for CropScience

"We were particularly successful in our agriculture business - our second life-science area - in 2012," Dekkers said. CropScience increased sales by 15.5 percent (Fx& portfolio adj. 12.4 percent) to 8,383 million euros (2011: 7,255 million euros) in an attractive market environment.

This growth was due largely to good business with new products in Crop Protection and rapidly expanding sales at Seeds. Environmental Science also developed favorably. The realignment of marketing and distribution activities and streamlining of the product range contributed to the gratifying performance. "These successes are impressive, as 2011 was already a very good year for CropScience," Dekkers emphasized.

All regions contributed to the growth in sales at Crop Protection. Moreover, all business units achieved double-digit growth rates, headed by seed treatments (SeedGrowth) at 17.2 percent (Fx& portfolio adj.). Insecticides improved by 14.8 percent (Fx& portfolio adj.), while fungicides advanced by 13.2 percent (Fx& portfolio adj.) and herbicides by 10.1 percent (Fx& portfolio adj.).

Thanks to growth in all regions, but particularly in North America, sales of the Seeds business advanced by 14.1 percent (Fx& portfolio adj.). That business achieved double-digit sales growth rates in each of the core crops oilseed rape/canola, rice and cotton. By contrast, sales of vegetable seeds declined slightly (Fx& portfolio adj.). Sales of the Environmental Science business unit moved forward by 5.3 percent (Fx& portfolio adj.).

EBITDA before special items of CropScience improved by 21.4 percent to 2,008 million euros (2011: 1,654 million euros). This growth resulted above all from significantly higher volumes and positive currency effects.

MaterialScience raises sales and earnings before special items

"Bayer MaterialScience also contributed to the very good full-year performance," said Dekkers. Sales of the high-tech materials business rose by 6.2 percent (Fx& portfolio adj. 3.0 percent) to 11,503 million euros (2011: 10,832 million euros). While volumes were flat in Europe, the subgroup posted good gains in the other regions. In addition, MaterialScience was able to slightly raise prices in all regions except Asia-Pacific countries.