Bayer Corp.

As part of a makeover promised last year, Bayer is beginning a process of staff reductions that aims to slice through the bureaucracy CEO Bill Anderson blames for the companys sluggish performance.The German conglomerate said it cant give a figure for the total reduction in headcount but made clear that the layoffs will be significant. In order to make rapid, sustainable improvements to our operational performance and our room to maneuver, far-reaching measures are necessary, Bayer Labor Director Heike Prinz said in the companys statement Wednesday.Bayers employee representatives reluctantly agreed to the measures, saying Andersons vision represents a promising path forward for the struggling company.In the companys strained economic situation, the programs and measures already underway are not sufficient, which is why, with a heavy heart, we have agreed to further cuts, Heike Hausfeld, chairwoman of the Central Works Council of Bayer, said in the statement.The company plans to begin layoffs quickly and expects to complete the job cuts by the end of 2025. In Germany, employees will have an extended safety net after negotiations with labor representatives, meaning people who lose their jobs and havent found new positions wont be officially terminated until Dec. 31, 2026.Anderson aims to empower small, self-managed teams and reduce the number of layers between him and the companys customers. Dubbed Dynamic Shared Ownership, Andersons model is designed to accelerate decision-making and improve performance, but means there will no longer be roles for many Bayer employees with managerial and coordination responsibilities.Bureaucracy is a plague that is basically inherent in all big pharma companies, Juergen Eckhardt, Bayers head of business development, told BioPharma Dive in a recent interview. Andersons model offers a chance for the company employees to try to reinvent the way we work, the way we organize, the whole way the system works, he said.The pharmaceutical, crop science and consumer health company employs about 22,000 people in Germany and had a headcount of 101,000 people around the world in fiscal 2022. As part of the latest agreement, Bayer reaffirmed its commitment to developing its business in Germany and said it plans to further develop its corporate headquarters and improve its pension plan.Bayer isnt alone in slimming down. The companys layoffs follow plans by Swiss drugmaker Novartis to shed as many as 8,000 employees worldwide. And the biotech giant Biogen in July announced it would eliminate 1,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive. Pharma layoffs in 2023 affected at least 4,000 roles, according to data gathered by BioPharma Dive.Ben Fidler contributed reporting. '

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Waichman LLP, a national leader in consumer protection and product liability litigation, is proud to announce the newly established multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3089) concerning Oral Phenylephrine Marketing and Sales Practices. The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the centralization of numerous related actions into this MDL, which will be presided over by the Honorable Brian M. Cogan in the Eastern District of New York. Continue Reading Parker Waichman LLP Prior to the formation of this MDL, Parker Waichman filed two distinct class actions in the Eastern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of a wide variety of inefficacious over the counter cold medicine products and supports centralization of these actions in the Eastern District of New York. The litigation encompasses claims against various pharmaceutical companies including, but not limited to, Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, and Procter & Gamble, alleging that over-the-counter cough and cold medications containing phenylephrine as an active ingredient are ineffective in relieving nasal congestion, performing no better than a placebo. This centralization aims to address common factual questions surrounding the efficacy of oral phenylephrine, defendants' knowledge thereof, and the regulatory backdrop provided by a September 2023 determination by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee. Parker Waichman LLP's involvement in this landmark case underscores the firm's dedication to advocating for consumer rights and its expertise in managing complex litigations of this nature. Previously appointed to the Plaintiff Executive Committee in another MDL overseen by Judge Cogan (In re Bayer Corp. Combination Aspirin Products Marketing & Sales Practices Litigation, MDL 2023), and many others, the firm brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to this significant case. "As steadfast advocates for consumers' rights and public health, we are committed to ensuring that justice is served for the countless consumers who may have been misled by the purported benefits of these widely used pharmaceutical products," stated Melanie Muhlstock, Managing Partner of the Mass Torts Department at Parker Waichman LLP. "The formation of MDL 3089 represents a crucial step in addressing widespread concerns about the marketing and efficacy of oral phenylephrine products." For further information, please contact 516.466.6500. About Parker Waichman LLP Parker Waichman LLP is a leading national law firm with extensive experience in consumer protection and product liability litigation. Committed to advocating for the rights of consumers and individuals adversely affected by corporate misconduct, the firm has a long history of securing significant legal victories, obtaining significant jury awards and settlements, and advocating for reforms that promote public safety and well-being. For additional information about filing a claim, visit our Phenylephrine Claims page. SOURCE Parker Waichman LLP

Peter B. Corr, Ph.D., Named Executive Chairman UNIVERSITY PARK, Fla., Nov. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lakewood-Amedex Inc., a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical discovery and development company advancing a broad portfolio of first-in-class antimicrobial and antifungal therapeutics called Bisphosphocins™, today announced that Peter B. Corr, Ph.D., who has served as board chairman since 2020, was named Executive Chairman and will assume the strategic responsibilities of former CEO Steve Parkinson who left the company at the request of the Board. Dr. Corr is the Co-founder and Managing General Partner of Auven Therapeutics Management LLLP. He retired from Pfizer Inc. in 2006 where he was Senior Vice President for Science and Technology, in addition to leading worldwide pharmaceutical research and development for Pfizer. Previously, Dr. Corr served as Executive Vice President, Pfizer Global Research & Development and President, Pfizer Worldwide Development. His full CV is on the Lakewood-Amedex website The Company also announced leadership promotions in the organization for Thomas Balzer, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Clinical Development, and Kelvin Cooper, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development. Both Dr. Balzer and Dr. Cooper now report to Dr. Corr. Dr. Balzer will take on the additional role of Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Cooper, who will serve as Chief Operating Officer, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Research and Development. Dr. Balzer and Dr. Cooper now report to Dr. Corr Dr. Balzer is an accomplished healthcare professional with extensive experience in clinical drug development and medical affairs. In his most recent position, Dr. Balzer was Head of Clinical Development at Thrive Detect, an Exact Sciences Company, and was leading the development of a multi-cancer detection liquid biopsy assay. Dr. Balzer worked for more than 25 years in various positions at Bayer HealthCare and served as Vice President and Global Head of Medical Affairs & Clinical Development Radiology at Bayer U.S. in NJ with responsibility for Bayer's medical imaging business. This included pharmaceuticals (contrast media), medical devices, and informatics/ AI projects. Dr. Balzer also built, developed, and managed teams at different locations worldwide and completed four global clinical development programs/ NDAs as well as several additional indication expansions. Dr. Balzer attended medical school in Berlin, Germany, and conducted his residency at the Benjamin Franklin Hospital of the Free University Berlin. He is board-certified in Germany in Internal Medicine, and he earned his Ph.D. from the Free University for work in neuro-endocrine pharmacology. Dr. Cooper is a seasoned pharmaceutical scientist and executive with more than 45 years of experience in all aspects of drug discovery and development across several therapeutic areas including infectious disease, cancer, respiratory, immunology, and inflammation. Before joining Lakewood-Amedex, Dr. Cooper filled several roles at Pfizer, including Senior Vice President for Portfolio Development in its Established Pharmaceutical Sciences Business Unit; Senior Vice President of Worldwide Pharmaceutical Sciences with responsibility for both small molecules and biologics in the areas of drug substance, drug product, and device development; Executive Director of drug development for cancer, respiratory, allergy, immunology, and infectious disease; and Director of Drug Discovery in those same therapeutic areas. Dr. Cooper earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Nottingham and is a past recipient of the Captain Black Award for Science. He has also authored 46 publications and holds 34 patents. Board chairman Dr. Peter B. Corr stated, "We are fortunate to have Drs. Balzer and Cooper serve in these important roles at Lakewood-Amedex, and their promotions reflect the level of accomplishment that they have brought to the company during their tenure. We look forward to their continued contributions as we work to advance our Research and Clinical Development programs." About Lakewood-Amedex, Inc. Lakewood-Amedex is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a broad portfolio of first-in-class antimicrobial and antifungal therapeutics called Bisphosphocins™. The company's products and technology are covered by an extensive patent portfolio consisting of granted and/or issued patents and pending patent applications covering many major pharmaceutical indications. The company's lead therapeutic candidates are novel synthetic broad-spectrum antimicrobials proven to be effective in killing a wide range of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria and all fungal strains tested. Nu-3 has already completed a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with infected diabetic foot ulcers and a larger Phase 2 program is being initiated. For more information, Contact: Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. Media David Schemelia [email protected] 609-468-9325 SOURCE Lakewood-Amedex Inc.