Bayer Introduces CONTOUR(R) USB - Innovative Plug and Play Technology That Puts People With Diabetes in the Driving Seat

NEWBURY, England, March 1, 2010 - Today Bayer Diabetes Care launch their new CONTOUR(R) USB
blood glucose meter in the UK and Ireland. Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB is the
first blood glucose meter with cutting edge 'plug and play' technology and a
built-in USB that inserts directly into a computer. This innovative meter
provides users with instant access to their blood glucose test results whilst
'on-the-go', helping them to manage their condition more effectively and in a
way that suits their modern lifestyle. Specialist Glucofacts(TM) DELUXE
software translates up to 2,000 individual blood glucose readings into
meaningful trends and patterns, giving users an unprecedented level of access
to their own unique diabetic profiles and empowering them to become 'experts'
in their diabetes.

"This technology has the potential to transform the way people
manage their diabetes; instead of seeing a single blood glucose level, they
can now simply see & review the whole picture", said Dr. Iain Cranston,
Consultant Physician, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. "Up until now
visualisation of this data has been difficult and people with diabetes have
often just been reacting to their one-off blood glucose levels on a real-time
basis, but CONTOUR(R) USB gives them a much bigger overview, enabling them to
spot regular patterns and potential problems emerging and allowing them to
take a more proactive role in their condition."

Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB can also help people with diabetes to
make better, more informed decisions that are based upon genuine insight.
Users can not only download their blood glucose results for their own
information, but they can now send them directly to their healthcare
professionals at the touch of a button.

"With the CONTOUR(R) USB meter, patients are able to share
their results with their healthcare professional during a clinic appointment,
over the phone, or via email, giving them the opportunity to make treatment
adjustments, such as taking action to reduce their HbA1c levels, if
necessary. One of the main differences is that now this is a two-way
conversation and patients are better able to understand the logic behind such
treatment adjustments, incorporating them into their daily routine with
greater ease." said Dr. David Simmons, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Bayer
Diabetes Care.

Low levels of HbA1c in the bloodstream are one of the best
indicators that diabetes is under control. Use of Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB with
its specialist diabetes management software has been shown to significantly
lower HbA1c(1) and a sustained HbA1c reduction is important for consistent
diabetes management. In fact, even a one-percent reduction in HbA1c reduces
the risk of serious diabetes related complications by 40 percent(2).

Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB meter also features:

    - A bright colour display, visible in any light that shows
      average, high and low readings with customisable features such as
      intuitive pre- and post-meal marking

    - 500MB extra memory for storage of personal diabetes
      information

    - Rechargeable battery that can charge from any USB port or
      via the optional CONTOUR(R) USB wall charger

    - Glucofacts(TM) DELUXE diabetes management software

Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB meter uses CONTOUR(R) blood glucose
test strips currently available on prescription.

Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers, who has diabetes and is an
ambassador for Bayer Diabetes Care said, "I have been using Bayer's
CONTOUR(R) USB meter and really like it. The technology has made monitoring
my blood sugar, logging the results, and sharing information with my
healthcare professional an easier process for me, especially with my busy
schedule. This new meter has totally simplified my diabetes management
experience."

Nick has custom designed a Dog Tag, available for people with
diabetes and those who want to show their support for diabetes. Launching in
the UK at the same time as Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB meter, the Dog Tags are
GBP6 and Bayer will make a donation to the Jonas Brothers' Change for the
Children Foundation as well as donating GBP1 to the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation for every dog tag sold. The Dog Tags are available at
www.NicksSimpleWins.co.uk.

Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB meter will be available soon for sale
in the United Kingdom and Ireland. If based in the United Kingdom, people
should visit www.bayercontourusb.co.uk to find out more and to purchase
Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB meter. If they make their purchase before the 30th of
June 2010, they can save GBP5 by typing USBPR5 in the promotional code box.

Alternatively if they are based in Ireland, they should go to
www.bayercontourusb.ie. If they make their purchase before the 30th of
June 2010, they can save EUR6 by typing USBPR6 in the promotional code box.

Notes to Editors

Dog Tags

A dog tag is the informal name for the identification tags
originally worn by military personnel, but which are now popular in wider
fashion circles.

When dog tags are worn as jewellery they are often fashioned
out of precious metals and they may be inscribed with the owner's details
including information relating to their health.

About Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or
properly use insulin.(3) Approximately 2.6 million children and adults in the
UK or 4% of the population, have diabetes,(4) which puts them at risk of
developing serious health complications over time, such as heart disease,
kidney disease, blindness, and stroke.(5) Type 1 diabetes, also called
juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. In
people with type 1 diabetes, the body makes little or no insulin, which may
result in many complications if glucose levels are not controlled.(6) Type 2
diabetes is usually diagnosed in adults, although increasingly, children are
being diagnosed with this disease. Type 2 is associated with obesity, family
history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose
metabolism, physical inactivity and race/ethnicity.(7)

About Bayer Diabetes Care

Bayer Diabetes Care supports customers in 100 countries and stands in a
Long tradition of leading the way in diabetes care product innovation since
the introduction of CLINITEST reagent tablets in 1941. The face of diabetes
care was changed in 1969 when the first portable blood glucose meter and test
strips were introduced. Bayer HealthCare further innovated diabetes
management by being the first company to introduce a suite of blood glucose
monitors with No Coding(TM) technology. The BREEZE(R) 2 and CONTOUR(R) blood
glucose monitoring systems offer people with diabetes an unparalleled choice
in diabetes management systems. Bayer Diabetes Care global headquarters is
located in Tarrytown, New York, in the United States and operates as part of
Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the worldwide Bayer HealthCare group. The
Headquarters for the region Europe-MERA is located in Basel as part of Bayer
Con­sumer Care AG.

About Bayer HealthCare

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the
fields of healthcare, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a
subsidiary of Bayer AG, 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,
Bayer Schering Pharma, Consumer Care and Medical Care divisions. Bayer
HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve
human and animal health worldwide. Find more information at
www.bayerhealthcare.com.

    Collateral available:

    - Spokespeople:
      - Case study - a patient with diabetes who is the first person
        in the UK to trial this blood glucose meter
      - Bayer - Dr. David Simmons, MD, Chief Medical Officer for
        Bayer Diabetes Care
      - KOL- Dr. Iain Cranston, Consultant Physician, Queen Alexandra
        Hospital, Portsmouth
    - Photos: Bayer's CONTOUR(R) USB blood glucose meter
    - Backgrounders:
      - Bayer Diabetes Care 40 Year History
      - Diabetes Fact Sheet
      - Bayer Innovations in Diabetes Management Timeline

1 Janssen M. Portalalin M, Wallace J, et al.: Ascensia WinGLUCOFACTS(TM)
Professional Software Improves Diabetes Health Outcomes. J Diabetes Sci
Technol 2007: 1:47-53.

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National diabetes fact
sheet: general information and national
estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2003.
www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2003.pdf. Last
accessed May 11, 2009

3 CDC Diabetes Program: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/basics.htm

4 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) 2009:

England:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/supporting-information/audits-andperformance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework/qof-2008/09/data-tables/prevalence-data-tables

(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste
this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the
space if one exists.)

5 CDC Diabetes Program: www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/basics.htm

6 www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/search.pdf. Last accessed May 4,
2009

7 www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/general.htm Last accessed May 4, 2009

    Media Contact(s):

    Rachel Owen
    Bayer Diabetes Care
    Corporate Media & Public Relations
    Manager
    T: +44-1635-563410
    M: +44-7836-509-262

    Joanna Tubbs
    MS&L Group
    Senior Account Executive
    T: +44-(0)207-878-3107
    M: +44-(0)7946880649

Media Contact(s): Rachel Owen, Bayer Diabetes Care, Corporate Media & Public Relations, Manager, T: +44-1635-563410, M: +44-7836-509-262. Joanna Tubbs, MS&L Group, Senior Account Executive, T: +44-(0)207-878-3107, M: +44-(0)7946880649