Bayer and GSK Celebrate Six Months of Treating American Men with LEVITRA(R) (vardenafil HCl) for Erectile Dysfunction - Over Half A Million Prescriptions Have Been Filled for Levitra - WEST HAVEN, Conn., and PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bayer AG (DAX and NYSE: BAY) and GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE and NYSE: GSK) today heralded the six-month anniversary of the U.S. launch of the erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment Levitra as one of the most successful new product introductions in the last two years. Since first becoming available in late August, 2003, more than half a million prescriptions for Levitra have been filled. The U.S. availability of Levitra has also fueled explosive growth in the ED category, with a 20% increase in useof ED drugs over the previous year.(1) Importantly, since the launch of Levitra, physicians have reported significantly greater numbers of men seeking treatment for their erectile dysfunction (+41%).(2) "Clearly, the launch of Levitra has dramaticallyreshaped the landscape of how we treat ED in America," said Irwin Goldstein, M.D., professor of urology at Boston University School of Medicine. "Both men and their physicians are keenly aware of Levitra as an important new option and that has spurredmore treatment of a long-neglected condition." "Feedback from both patients and physicians about Levitra has been overwhelmingly positive with reports of high levels of confidence in the product and its ability to provide consistent quality erections,"said Colin J. Foster, president and CEO, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Region Head North America. "The successful launch of Levitra shows that many men with ED have benefited from Levitra as a new treatment option," said Chris Viehbacher, president, U.S. Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline. "We are particularly pleased that our efforts to communicate with and to educate both physicians and men with ED have been effective in generating more awareness and dialog about this important condition." Super Bowl Highlights Recent Levitra initiatives, including a landmark sponsorship of the National Football League (NFL) and launch of the "Levitra Challenge" during this year's Super Bowl, have had a measurable effect upon consumers seeking information on Levitra, as well as on product sales and brand awareness. Highlights include: * Levitra was the first prescription pharmaceutical advertisement ever to air during a Super Bowl * In the one-hour period after the advertisement aired during the Super Bowl, unique web visits to Levitra.com grew by 2,235%(3) * In the week immediately following the Super Bowl, new prescriptions for Levitra grew by 15%(4) Industry Recognition for Healthcare Advertising and Brand Awareness For the first time in over five years, the launch of Levitra provided men the opportunity to discuss a new treatment option for erectile dysfunction with their doctors. Within weeks of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, Bayer and GSK captured the interest of the ED market and increased the awareness of Levitra through an innovative and widespread advertising campaign. The launch has received numerous industry accolades including the following: * In November 2003, Advertising Age reported that Levitra was recognized as the first pharmaceutical product with direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising to achieve the #1 position in the IAG/Ad Age advertising rankings for highest brand recognition * The Levitra launch ranked sixth overall on Ad Age's "10 Most Successful Product Launches" list of 2003 * PR Week's "Book of Lists" for 2003 ranked Levitra's launch fourth on its "10 Product Launches You Could Not Miss" list ED and Levitra ED -- the consistent or recurrent inability of a man to attain and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for sexual performance(5) -- is a common health condition among men that is largely untreated. It is estimated that some degree of ED affects more than one half of all men over the age of 40(6) -- 152 million men worldwide(7) and 30 million men in the United States alone.(8) Despite the high prevalence of sexual problems, nine out of 10 men in the U.S. have not yet sought treatment from a physician.(9) Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline signed a worldwide co-promotion and co-development agreement for Levitra in November 2001. To date, Levitra has received regulatory approval for the treatment of ED in more than 63 countries. Levitra was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ED on August 19, 2003, providing men with their first new ED treatment choice in five years. Levitra is a prescription medicine that is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Men taking nitrate drugs, often used to control chest pain (also known as angina), should not take Levitra. Men who use alpha-blockers, sometimes prescribed for high blood pressure or prostate problems, also should not take Levitra. Such combinations could cause blood pressure to dropto an unsafe level. You should not take Levitra if your doctor determines that sexual activity poses a health risk for you. Men who experience an erection for more than four hours should seek immediate medical attention. Levitra does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. The starting dose of Levitra is 10 mg taken no more than once per day. Your doctor will decide the dose that is right for you. In patients taking certain medications such as ritonavir, indinavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and erythromycin, lower doses of Levitra are recommended, and time between doses of Levitra may need to be extended. In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects are headache, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. Levitra is available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets. Individual patient results may vary. About Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation is part of the worldwide operations of Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG. Bayer HealthCare is one of the world's leading innovators in the healthcare and medical products industry. Bayer HealthCare combines the global activities of the business groups of Bayer AG in the fields of Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. More than 34,000 employees support the worldwide operations of Bayer HealthCare. Our work at Bayer HealthCare is to discover and manufacture innovative products for the purpose of improving human and animal health worldwide. Our products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating disease. This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. About GSK GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. Under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by the company, including those made in this Announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect the Group's operations are discussed under risk factors in the Company's Preliminary Announcement of Results for the Year Ended 31st December 2002. REFERENCES: 1. Data from Verispan Physicians Drug and Diagnosis Audit (PDDA) [formerly called Scott Levin]. 2. Data from Verispan Physicians Drug and Diagnosis Audit (PDDA) [formerly called Scott Levin]. 3. Data on file. 4. Data on file. 5. Jardin A, Wagner G, Khoury S, et al. Recommendations of the 1st International Consultation on Erectile Dysfunction. Co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Consultationon Urological Diseases (ICUD) and Societe Internationale d'Urologie (SIU) and held July 1-3, 1999, Paris. 2000, p. 713. 6. Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, et al. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol 1994;151:54-61. 7. Aytac IA, McKinlay JB, Krane RI. The likely worldwide increase of erectile dysfunction between 1995 and 2025 and some possible policy consequences. BJU Int 1999;84:50-56. 8. National Institutes of Health, Consensus Development Conference Statement, December 7-9, 1992. Online data: http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/cons/091/091_statement.htm. (accessed 8/26/02). 9. Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC. Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999;281:537-544. DATASOURCE: Bayer AG; GlaxoSmithKline plc CONTACT: Lara Crissey, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation, +1-203-812-6558; or Michael Fleming of GlaxoSmithKline, +1-919-483-2839; or Melissa Luke of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, +1-212-880-5238, for Bayer AG and GlaxoSmithKline plc

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