December 18, 1996
(Industry, Trade and Technology)

Bayer does research work in province

Charles J. Furey, Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology, announced today that Bayer Inc. will spend approximately $750,000 on medical research and development in the province. The research, which consists of three separate contracts, focuses on the effects of drugs on various health problems such as coronary artery disease, diabetes, stroke and congestive heart failure. Similar contracts for other areas of research are expected to be signed soon. The research will take place at Memorial University of Newfoundland's Faculty of Medicine and the General Hospital.

Mr. Furey said that this type of work makes a significant contribution to the provincial economy by creating well-paying jobs and utilizing the expertise and capabilities that exist in the province in this particular field. He said: "Medical research produces high-end research and development jobs and improved patient care in the province and in the rest of Canada. For every $1,000 spent on medical research, up to $700 goes towards the salaries of medical research staff. In fact, we presently have more than 30 clinical research nurses actively involved in research within the Health Care Corporation."

The Department of Industry, Trade and Technology has been actively involved in a focused effort with the Department of Health and Memorial University of Newfoundland's Faculty of Medicine to increase the level of medical research in the province over the past three years. In June, Mr. Furey led a delegation of researchers to Prince Edward Island for a symposium on medical research. At that meeting, he met with the Board of Directors of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Canada (PMAC). Subsequent to that meeting, a number of pharmaceutical companies visited the province and are now involved in various projects at MUN's Medical School.

Dr. Kevin Keough, Vice President of Research at Memorial University, said: "We are delighted to see the investment by Bayer in research at the university. It is a gratifying endorsement of the quality of our health researchers. We are also pleased with the positive action taken by the government of the province to promote this kind of investment in health research."

Dr. Tim Shannon, Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs for Bayer Inc., participated in a visit to St. John's in November and met with 13 researchers at the Medical School. He was very impressed with the quality of researchers at MUN and expects that Bayer will be in a position to fund more work in Newfoundland in the future, particularly in the area of clinical epidemiology. He said: "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has taken a very active approach in promoting the excellent medical research capability at Memorial University Medical School and the General Hospital. This positive research environment means that Bayer can be confident that the high quality of research that we require can be found in Newfoundland."

Bayer Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of the international chemical and health care company, Bayer AG (Germany), is research-based with major businesses in health care, chemical and imaging technologies. Headquartered in Toronto, Bayer Inc. and its sister company, Bayer Rubber Inc., of Sarnia, employ 2,300 people and had combined sales of more than $1.2 billion in 1995.

Contact: John Doody, Director of Communications, Industry, Trade and Technology, (709) 729-0050, or Shona Kinley, Manager of Professional and Government Relations (Atlantic), Bayer Inc., (902) 425-9589.