History of Bayer in Timeline

Bayer AG is a German multinational corporation focused on pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, with headquarters in Leverkusen. It is among the largest pharmaceutical and biomedical companies globally. Bayer's business segments include pharmaceuticals, consumer health, agricultural chemicals, seeds, and biotechnology products. The company is a component of the EURO STOXX 50 stock market index.

1903: Bayer Licenses Patent for Diethylbarbituric Acid

In 1903, Bayer licensed the patent for the hypnotic drug diethylbarbituric acid from its inventors Emil Fischer and Joseph von Mering.

1904: Veronal Marketed as a Sleep Aid

In 1904, Bayer marketed diethylbarbituric acid under the trade name Veronal as a sleep aid.

1904: Bayer Receives Trademark for the "Bayer Cross" Logo

In 1904, Bayer received a trademark for the "Bayer Cross" logo, which was subsequently stamped onto each aspirin tablet.

1904: Bayer Cross Corporate Logo Introduced

In 1904, the Bayer cross was introduced as the company's corporate logo. It consisted of the word BAYER written vertically and horizontally, sharing the Y and enclosed in a circle.

1904: Company founded the sports club TuS 04

In 1904, the company founded the sports club TuS 04, which would become Bayer Leverkusen. The club is known for its football team but is involved in many sports.

1910: Bayer Cross Stamped on Aspirin Tablets

From 1910, Bayer's "Bayer Cross" logo was stamped onto each aspirin tablet, creating an enduring brand image.

1910: Bayer Discontinues Heroin Marketing

In 1910, Bayer ceased trademarking and marketing heroin, which had been introduced as a non-addictive substitute for morphine and marketed as a cough suppressant and over-the-counter treatment.

1911: Discovery of Phenobarbital at Bayer

In 1911, Systematic investigations of the effect of structural changes on potency and duration of action at Bayer led to the discovery of phenobarbital.

1912: Discovery of Phenobarbital's Anti-Epileptic Activity

In 1912, Bayer discovered the potent anti-epileptic activity of phenobarbital.

1914: Confiscation of Bayer's Assets During World War I

During World War I in 1914, Bayer's assets, including the rights to its name and trademarks, were confiscated in the United States, Canada and several other countries.

1914: Bayer Manufactures Chemical Weapons

In 1914, during World War I, Bayer manufactured dianisidine chlorosulfate for use in 105 mm artillery shell, intended as a lung irritant against British forces.

1916: Bayer Scientists Discover Suramin

In 1916, Bayer scientists discovered suramin, an anti-parasite drug that is still sold by Bayer under the brand name Germanin.

1918: Confiscation of Bayer's Assets Continues

By 1918, During World War I, Bayer's assets, including the rights to its name and trademarks, remained confiscated in the United States, Canada and several other countries.

1920: Death of Friedrich Bayer Jr.

In 1920, Friedrich Bayer (1851–1920), the son of the company's founder, who had been a chemist and joined the company in 1873, passed away.

1924: Formula of Suramin Elucidated

In 1924, the formula of suramin was elucidated and published by Ernest Fourneau and his team at the Pasteur Institute, after Bayer had kept it secret for commercial reasons. Suramin is an anti-parasite drug that is still sold by Bayer under the brand name Germanin.

1925: Bayer Becomes Part of IG Farben

In 1925, Bayer became part of IG Farben, a German conglomerate formed from the merger of six chemical companies.

1930: Leverkusen Founded as Home to Bayer AG's Headquarters

In 1930, a new city, Leverkusen, was founded and became home to Bayer AG's headquarters.

1932: Prontosil Developed at Bayer Laboratories

In 1932, the first sulfonamide and the first systemically active antibacterial drug, forerunner of antibiotics, Prontosil, was developed by a research team led by Gerhard Domagk at the Bayer Laboratories.

1933: Prontosil Developed at Bayer Laboratories

In 1933, the first sulfonamide and the first systemically active antibacterial drug, forerunner of antibiotics, Prontosil, was developed by a research team led by Gerhard Domagk at the Bayer Laboratories.

1935: Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Carl von Ossietzky

In 1935, the Nobel committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to a German pacifist, Carl von Ossietzky, leading to a ban on German citizens accepting Nobel prizes.

1939: Gerhard Domagk Wins Nobel Prize

In 1939, Gerhard Domagk won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of the antibacterial effects of prontosil, but was forced by the Nazi Party to relinquish the reward.

1939: World War II Begins

In 1939, World War II (1939–1945) began.

1943: IG Farben Workforce Consists of Slave Labor

By 1943, almost half of IG Farben's 330,000-strong workforce consisted of slave labour or conscripts, including 30,000 Auschwitz prisoners.

1944: Eichengrün Imprisoned at Theresienstadt

In 1944, Arthur Eichengrün, a Bayer chemist, was imprisoned at Theresienstadt concentration camp. He asserted that he was the first to discover an aspirin formulation that did not have the unpleasant side effects of nausea and gastric pain.

1945: World War II Ends

In 1945, World War II (1939–1945) ended.

1950: Fritz ter Meer Released from Prison

In 1950, Fritz ter Meer, who helped plan the Monowitz camp and IG Farben's Buna Werke factory at Auschwitz, was released from prison after being sentenced to seven years for war crimes.

1951: IG Farben Split and Bayer Reincorporated

In 1951, following World War II, IG Farben was split into its constituent companies, and Bayer was reincorporated as Farbenfabriken Bayer AG.

1951: IG Farben Split into Constituent Companies

In 1951, the Allied Control Council split IG Farben into its six constituent companies, then split again into three: BASF, Bayer and Hoechst.

1953: Bayer Introduces Chlorpromazine

In 1953, Bayer brought the first neuroleptic (chlorpromazine) onto the German market.

1956: Fritz ter Meer Elected Chairman of Bayer AG's Supervisory Board

In 1956, Fritz ter Meer, a convicted Nazi war criminal, was elected as chairman of Bayer AG's supervisory board.

1964: Fritz ter Meer Steps Down as Chairman of Bayer AG's Supervisory Board

In 1964, Fritz ter Meer stepped down as chairman of Bayer AG's supervisory board, a position he had held since 1956.

1972: Farbenfabriken Bayer AG Changes Name to Bayer AG

In 1972, Farbenfabriken Bayer AG changed its name to Bayer AG.

1978: Bayer Purchases Miles Laboratories

In 1978, Bayer purchased Miles Laboratories and its subsidiaries Miles Canada and Cutter Laboratories, including product lines.

1978: PCB contamination lawsuits

In June 2020, Bayer agreed to pay $800 million to settle lawsuits in a variety of jurisdictions which claimed contamination of public waterways with PCBs by Monsanto before 1978.

1983: Contaminated Blood Products Identified as AIDS Source

By 1983, the CDC had identified contaminated blood products as a source of AIDS infection, leading to higher rates of AIDS among people with hemophilia.

1984: TuS became TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen

In 1984, TuS 04 became TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

1984: Introduction of Heat-Treated Blood Products

In early 1984, companies including Bayer developed new ways to treat donated blood with heat to decontaminate it, and these new products were introduced.

1985: Cutter Continues Selling Unheated Blood Products

In 1985, Cutter continued to sell unheated blood products in markets outside the US, including in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Argentina, to offload a product it was unable to sell in Europe and the US; it also continued manufacturing the unheated product for several months.

1994: Bayer AG purchased Sterling Winthrop's over-the-counter (OTC) drug business

In 1994, Bayer AG acquired Sterling Winthrop's over-the-counter (OTC) drug business from SmithKline Beecham, merging it with Miles Laboratories. This acquisition allowed Bayer to reclaim the U.S. and Canadian trademark rights to "Bayer" and the Bayer cross, as well as ownership of the Aspirin trademark in Canada.

1994: Bayer Reclaims Assets in US and Canada

In 1994, Bayer reclaimed its assets and trademarks, including the well-known Bayer cross, in the United States and Canada, which had been acquired by Sterling Drug during World War I.

1995: Bayer Offers Public Apology for WWII Actions

In 1995, Helge Wehmeier, then CEO of Bayer, offered a public apology to Elie Wiesel for the company's actions during World War II (1939–1945) and the Holocaust.

1997: Settlement for Hemophiliacs Infected by Blood Products

In 1997, Bayer and other makers of blood products agreed to pay $660 million to settle cases on behalf of more than 6,000 hemophiliacs infected in the United States.

2001: Bayer Discontinues Baycol

In 2001, Bayer discontinued its statin drug, Baycol (cerivastatin), after 52 deaths were attributed to it due to the side effect of rhabdomyolysis.

2002: Bayer AG acquired Aventis CropScience and Nunhems

In 2002, Bayer AG acquired Aventis CropScience and fused it with its agrochemicals division to form Bayer CropScience. Additionally, Bayer AG acquired the Dutch seed company Nunhems.

2003: Bayer AG reorganized into a holding company

In 2003, Bayer AG was reorganized into a holding company to separate operational and strategic managements. The core businesses were transformed into limited companies controlled by Bayer AG.

2003: Documents Emerge Showing Continued Sale of Unheated Blood Products

In 2003, documents emerged showing that Cutter had continued to sell unheated blood products in markets outside the US until 1985, including in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Argentina, to offload a product it was unable to sell in Europe and the US.

July 2004: Bayer Chemicals AG combined with polymers segment to form Lanxess

On July 1, 2004, Bayer Chemicals AG (excluding H.C. Starck and Wolff Walsrode) was combined with parts of the polymers segment to establish Lanxess.

2004: Bayer HealthCare acquired Roche's OTC pharmaceutical division

In 2004, Bayer HealthCare expanded its over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical business by acquiring the OTC division of Roche.

2004: Bayer divested its Chemicals division

In 2004, Bayer divested its Chemicals division.

2005: Lanxess listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange

In early 2005, Lanxess was listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

March 2006: Merck KGaA bid for Schering AG

In March 2006, Merck KGaA announced a €14.6 billion bid for Schering AG.

2006: Bayer CropScience's genetically modified rice contaminated U.S. rice supply

In 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Bayer CropScience's LibertyLink genetically modified rice had contaminated the U.S. rice supply, leading to import bans and price plunges.

January 2007: Siemens acquired Bayer HealthCare's Diagnostics Division

In January 2007, Siemens Medical Solutions acquired Bayer HealthCare's Diagnostics Division.

2007: Bayer acquired Schering AG and formed Bayer Schering Pharma

In 2007, Bayer acquired Schering AG for €14.6 billion after responding with a white knight bid, forming Bayer Schering Pharma. This acquisition was the largest in Bayer's history at the time.

2007: Trasylol Withdrawn from Market

In 2007, Trasylol (aprotinin), used to control bleeding during major surgery, was withdrawn from the market worldwide due to reports of increased mortality.

March 2008: Bayer HealthCare to acquire Sagmel, Inc.'s portfolio and OTC division

In March 2008, Bayer HealthCare announced it would acquire the portfolio and over-the-counter (OTC) division of Sagmel, Inc., a US-based company marketing OTC medications in many Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

August 2008: Explosion at Bayer CropScience facility in West Virginia

On August 28, 2008, a runaway reaction ruptured a tank at the Bayer CropScience facility in Institute, West Virginia, resulting in an explosion that killed two employees. The ruptured tank was near a methyl isocyanate tank, which was undamaged.

October 2008: Bayer's Canadian division named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers"

In October 2008, Bayer's Canadian division was recognized as one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada.

April 2010: Jury awarded farmers $48 million in Bayer CropScience rice contamination case

In April 2010, a jury in Lonoke County, Arkansas, awarded a dozen farmers $48 million due to the Bayer CropScience LibertyLink rice contamination.

November 2010: Bayer AG to buy Bomac Group

In November 2010, Bayer AG signed an agreement to buy Auckland-based animal health company Bomac Group.

July 2011: Bayer CropScience agreed to a global settlement for LibertyLink rice contamination

On July 1, 2011, Bayer CropScience agreed to a global settlement for up to $750 million related to the LibertyLink genetically modified rice contamination.

December 2011: Health Canada updates information on Yasmin and Yaz

On 5 December 2011, Health Canada updated information on the increased risk of blood clots associated with Yasmin and Yaz (drospirenone).

2011: Aspirin Production and Consumption

As of 2011, approximately 40,000 tons of aspirin were produced each year and 10–20 billion tablets consumed in the United States alone for prevention of cardiovascular events.

2011: Bayer USA given a score of 85 in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index

In 2011, Bayer USA received a score of 85 out of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, indicating its commitment to gay and lesbian workplace equality.

2013: Bayer CropScience plans to invest $1 billion in the United States between 2013 and 2016.

From 2013 to 2016, Bayer CropScience announced plans to invest $1 billion in the United States.

May 2014: Bayer to buy Merck & Co's consumer health care unit

In May 2014, it was announced that Bayer would buy Merck & Co's consumer health care unit for $14.2 billion.

September 2014: Bayer CropScience announced plans to invest $1 billion in the United States

In September 2014, Bayer CropScience announced plans to invest $1 billion in the United States between 2013 and 2016, with significant investments in expanding the production of its Liberty herbicide.

September 2014: Bayer AG announced plans to float Bayer MaterialScience on the stock market

On September 18, 2014, the Board of Directors of Bayer AG announced plans to float the Bayer MaterialScience business on the stock market as a separate entity.

2014: Phenobarbital on WHO Essential Medicines List

As of 2014 Phenobarbital remains on the World Health Organization's list of essential medications.

2014: Bayer acquired Algeta and Merck's consumer health business

In 2014, Bayer moved to acquire Algeta for about $2.9 billion and agreed to buy Merck's consumer health business for $14.2 billion, gaining control of brands like Claritin, Coppertone, and Dr. Scholl's. This acquisition would make Bayer second globally in nonprescription drugs.

2014: Review of Primodos Birth Defect Claims

In 2014, a review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency assessed studies on Primodos and found the evidence for adverse effects to be inconclusive.

2014: Pharmaceutical Products Contribute to Bayer's Gross Revenue

In 2014, pharmaceutical products contributed €12.05 billion of Bayer's €40.15 billion in gross revenue.

2014: Bayer purchases Merck's consumer care business

On 4 April 2023, a Delaware judge dismissed a lawsuit by Merck & Co's seeking to hold Bayer responsible for more talc-related liabilities, stemming from its $14.2 billion purchase of Merck's consumer care business in 2014.

June 2015: Bayer to sell its diabetic care business to Panasonic Healthcare Holdings

In June 2015, Bayer agreed to sell its diabetic care business to Panasonic Healthcare Holdings for $1.02 billion.

June 2015: Bayer announced that the new company would be named Covestro

On June 1, 2015, Bayer announced that the new company would be named Covestro.

September 2015: Bayer formally spun out Covestro

In September 2015, Bayer formally spun out Covestro.

September 2015: Bayer spun out its materials science division into Covestro

In September 2015, Bayer spun out its $12.3 billion materials science division into a separate, publicly traded company called Covestro, retaining about a 70% interest. This decision aimed to focus on life science divisions.

October 2015: Covestro shares offered on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

In October 2015, Covestro shares were first offered on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

2015: Bayer Schering Pharma acquisition was one of the ten biggest pharma mergers of all time

As of 2015, The acquisition of Schering was one of the ten biggest pharma mergers of all time.

2015: Dicamba claims settlement

In June 2020, Bayer agreed to a settlement of up to $400 million for all 2015 to 2020 crop year dicamba claims, not including the $265 million judgement. The claims are for the crop year 2015.

January 2016: Bayer rebranded itself as a life sciences company

Effective January 2016, following the spinout of Covestro, Bayer rebranded itself as a life sciences company and restructured into three divisions and one business unit: Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Crop Science, and Animal Health.

May 2016: Bayer offered to buy Monsanto

In May 2016, Bayer made an offer to buy U.S. biotechnology company Monsanto for $62 billion.

September 2016: Monsanto agreed to be acquired by Bayer for $66 billion

In September 2016, Monsanto agreed to a $66 billion acquisition offer by Bayer.

2016: Bayer CropScience became a major division of Bayer AG

In 2016, Bayer CropScience became one of the three major divisions of Bayer AG as part of the corporate restructuring.

2016: Bayer HealthCare restructured

In 2016, Bayer HealthCare underwent restructuring, with Animal Health becoming its own business unit, leaving the division with categories like Allergy, Analgesics, and Dermatology.

2016: Bayer began restructuring to transition to a life sciences company

In 2016, Bayer began a second restructuring aimed at transitioning to a life sciences-based company.

2016: Bayer Merges with Monsanto

In 2016, Bayer merged with the American multinational Monsanto, marking the biggest acquisition by a German company to date, but also leading to significant financial and reputational damage.

2016: Access to Seeds Index ranking

In 2016, Bayer was ranked third in the Access to Seeds Index.

2016: Bayer's Monsanto acquisition

In 2016, Bayer's Monsanto acquisition is the biggest acquisition by a German company to date.

2016: Standard Ethics Aei rating

In 2016, Standard Ethics Aei gave Bayer an EE− rating to include the company in its Standard Ethics German Index.

2017: Bayer reported earnings of EUR€7.3 billion

For the fiscal year 2017, Bayer reported earnings of EUR€7.3 billion, with an annual revenue of EUR€35 billion, a decrease of 25.1% over the previous fiscal cycle.

2017: US District Court approves subclasses for One A Day vitamin suit

In 2017, the US District Court in San Francisco said subclasses of purchasers of the vitamin in Florida, New York and California could act together in a class action suit against Bayer.

2017: Earnings without Covestro from 2017

without Covestro from 2017 on

March 2018: EU approved Bayer's acquisition of Monsanto

On March 21, 2018, the European Union approved Bayer's acquisition of Monsanto, subject to divestiture of some agricultural assets to BASF.

May 2018: US approved Bayer's acquisition of Monsanto

On May 20, 2018, the United States approved Bayer's acquisition of Monsanto.

June 2018: Bayer closed the sale of Monsanto

On June 7, 2018, Bayer completed the sale of Monsanto. The Monsanto brand was discontinued, with products marketed under the Bayer name.

August 2018: Monsanto ordered to pay $289 million in Roundup lawsuit

In August 2018, a U.S. jury ordered Monsanto to pay $289 million to a school groundskeeper who claimed his Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was caused by regularly using Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide produced by Monsanto, two months after Bayer acquired Monsanto. Bayer's share price dropped by around 14% following the verdict.

September 2018: Bayer appeals Roundup verdict

On 18 September 2018, Bayer filed an appeal against the verdict ordering Monsanto to pay $289 million in the Roundup lawsuit. Pending appeal, the award was later reduced to $78.5 million.

November 2018: Bayer's market capitalization was valued at US€65.4 billion

In November 2018, Bayer's shares traded at over €69 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at US€65.4 billion.

November 2018: Monsanto appeals Roundup judgement

In November 2018, Monsanto appealed the judgement in the Roundup case, asking an appellate court to consider a motion for a new trial.

May 2019: Bayer ordered to pay $2.5 billion in damages in Roundup case

On 13 May 2019, a United States Superior Court Judge ordered Bayer to pay more than $2.5 billion in damages to a couple in California, both of whom contracted non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma due to Roundup. This was later cut to $87 million on appeal.

August 2019: Bayer acquired remaining stake in BlueRock Therapeutics

In August 2019, Bayer acquired the approximately 60% of BlueRock Therapeutics it did not already own for up to $600 million.

September 2019: Bayer announced to reduce the number of management board members

In September 2019, Bayer announced plans to reduce the number of management board members from seven to five to reduce overall costs.

September 2019: Bayer completed the merger of Monsanto India

On September 16, 2019, Bayer completed the merger of Monsanto India under the approval of the National Company Law Tribunal.

2019: Bayer and Johnson & Johnson settle Xarelto lawsuits

In 2019, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson settled around 25,000 lawsuits on the blood thinning drug Xarelto (rivaroxaban) by agreeing to disburse $775 million (US) to federal and state plaintiffs who said the companies had not properly warned patients about possible fatal bleeding as a result of ingesting the drug.

2019: Jury sides with Bayer in One A Day vitamin suit

In 2019, a federal jury in San Francisco sided with Bayer in a $600 million (US) class action suit alleging that the company misinformed consumers by promoting its One A Day vitamins as supporting cardiac health, vigorous immune systems and boosting user energy.

2019: Identified Key Growth Products

In 2019, identified "key growth" products for Bayer were Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Eylea (aflibercept), Stivarga (regorafenib), Xofigo (radium-223), and Adempas (riociguat).

January 2020: EPA finalizes interim registration review for Roundup

In January 2020, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its interim registration review for Roundup, stating that it "...did not identify any risks of concern" for cancer and other risks to humans from glyphosate exposure.

February 2020: Bayer and BASF ordered to pay $15 million in damages

On 14 February 2020, Bayer and BASF were ordered to pay Missouri peach farmer Bill Bader $15 million in damages as a result of destruction of his peach trees which was caused by the usage of dicamba by nearby farmers. On 15 February 2020, Bayer—representing Monsanto—and BASF were ordered to pay not only the $15 million in damages, but an additional $250 million in punitive damages.

June 2020: Bayer agrees to settlement for dicamba claims

In June 2020, Bayer agreed to a settlement of up to $400 million for all 2015 to 2020 crop year dicamba claims, not including the $265 million judgement.

June 2020: Bayer agrees to pay $800 million in PCB lawsuits

In June 2020, Bayer agreed to pay $800 million to settle lawsuits in a variety of jurisdictions which claimed contamination of public waterways with PCBs by Monsanto before 1978.

June 2020: Bayer agrees to $9.6 billion Roundup settlement

In June 2020, Bayer agreed to pay $9.6 billion to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits claiming harm from Roundup, saying this action will result in the resolution of 75% of those claims. Bayer will also assign $1.25 billion for future claims, an action that needs approval from the US District Court, Northern District of California.

June 2020: Appeal verdict on the Roundup case

In June 2020, a verdict on the appeal was delivered upholding the verdict but further reducing the award to $21.5 million in the Roundup case.

July 2020: California court denies Roundup appeal, reduces damages

In July 2020, the California Court of Appeals denied the appeal in a Roundup case but reduced the damages owed to $20.4 million.

August 2020: Bayer acquired KaNDy Therapeutics Ltd

In August 2020, Bayer announced it had acquired KaNDy Therapeutics Ltd for $425 million, aiming to boost its female healthcare business.

November 2020: Bayer's PCB settlement offer rejected

On 25 November 2020, U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin rejected Bayer's settlement offer, which was now at $650 million, and allowed Monsanto-related lawsuits involving PCB to proceed.

November 2020: Punitive damage amount reduced in Bader Farms case

On 25 November 2020, U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. reduced the punitive damage amount in the Bader Farms case to $60 million.

2020: Bayer sold its Animal Health business to Elanco

In 2020, Bayer divested its Animal Health business to Elanco.

June 2021: Bayer acquired Noria Therapeutics Inc. and PSMA Therapeutics Inc.

In June 2021, Bayer acquired Noria Therapeutics Inc. and PSMA Therapeutics Inc., gaining rights to several cancer-based investigational compounds based on actinium-225.

2021: Aspirin is Commonly Prescribed Medication

In 2021, Aspirin was the 34th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with over 17 million prescriptions.

June 2022: Court orders EPA to reexamine glyphosate finding

On 17 June 2022, the California-based United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to reexamine its 2020 finding that glyphosate did not pose a health risk for people exposed to it by any means.

April 2023: Judge dismisses Merck's lawsuit against Bayer over talc liabilities

2023: Roundup claims update

As of 2023, around 165,000 claims, more than 50,000 of which still pending, have been made against Roundup, mostly alleging that it had caused cancer.

2023: Bayer's Market value declined after Monsanto acquisition

By 2023, Bayer's market value had declined by over 60% since its 2016 merger with Monsanto, leaving the company's overall worth at less than half of what it paid to acquire Monsanto. Owing to ongoing litigation concerning the Monsanto's herbicide Roundup and the massive financial and reputational setbacks it has caused Bayer, the deal is considered one of the worst corporate mergers in history.

2024: Legislation introduced to shield Bayer from cancer lawsuits

In 2024, legislation was introduced in Iowa, Missouri and Idaho with language supplied by Bayer that experts say could shield the company from any lawsuits related to cancer risk. Bayer leads a group called Modern Ag Alliance which produces advertisements claiming that lawsuits threaten the availability of glyphosate.

2024: Largest shareholders of Bayer AG in early 2024

The 10 largest shareholders of Bayer AG in early 2024 were:

2025: Bayer increased its R&D investments

In 2025, Bayer increased its R&D investments by 22.6%; contributing to the European growth in R&D outpacing other regions that year.

2025: Flyers target senators opposing Bayer-backed bill

In 2025, flyers from a dark money source were sent to constituents of Missouri senators who oppose the bill to shield Bayer, claiming that the lawmakers' opposition would cause "Chinese Communist Party chemicals" to enter the food supply. The targeted senators allege that Bayer is behind the mailers, which Bayer denies.