Bayer AG

OTC Pink - Current Information:BAYRYUnited States

1401 GMT - Bayer's consumer-healthcare unit remains an attractive asset and its size and geographic footprint make it a good acquisition target should the German company decide to put it up for sale at some point, Barclays analysts say in a research note. The agricultural-and-pharmaceuticals group last month ruled out changes to its structure for now, but left the door open to consider its options in the future. Reckitt Benckiser, Procter & Gamble and Nestle seem to have the least overlap with Bayer's consumer-healthcare portfolio and would face less competition issues in a potential pursuit, Barclays says. Haleon and Kenvue's big overlaps with Bayer's consumer-healthcare sales would make them the most disadvantaged buyers from a regulatory perspective, Barclays says. Bayer shares fall 0.9%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

Low bleeding risk could also make factor XI inhibitors candidates to help prevent recurrent events in patients who have already suffered a stroke or an acute coronary event such as a heart attack -- a potentially huge new market for anticoagulants. Standard of care for such patients are antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, ticagrelor and aspirin, regimens that have sharply limited or ruled out adding anticoagulants that increase a patient's bleeding risk. Bristol-Myers and J&J could see the results of their studies in these indications in 2026. "It's an exciting hope that we can find drugs that will prevent [stroke] associated with atrial fibrillation without increasing the bleeding," says Dr. Mariell Jessup, chief science and medical officer at the American Heart Association, who isn't involved in the research. "If this is efficacious, it will change many, many things" about treatment of cardiovascular disease. Ron Winslow is a writer in North Conway, N.H. He can be reached at reports@wsj.com. Corrections & Amplifications This item was corrected on March 22, 2024. An earlier version misstated Jeffrey Weitz's first name as Jeffery. (END) Dow Jones Newswires March 21, 2024 15:00 ET (19:00 GMT)