Bayer Shares Rise on Positive Drug Trial and China Approval

Shares of Bayer AG (XETR: BAY0017) rose 2.7% to €45.17 on Monday following positive clinical trial data for its prostate cancer drug Nubeqa and the approval of Asundexian in China. The gains position Bayer at the top of the DAX index, signaling strong market reaction to the news.

The Phase III DASL-HiCaP study revealed that Nubeqa (darolutamide) reduced the risk of metastasis or death by 58% compared to placebo in patients with high-risk prostate cancer after a median follow-up period of 3.8 years. Both treatment groups also received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiotherapy alongside the drug. Analysts at Jefferies characterized the efficacy shown as a confirmation of existing knowledge, while JPMorgan analysts suggested the data indicates a further growth driver for Nubeqa in localized prostate cancer cases with very high recurrence risk. Additional revenue potential of up to €1 billion is projected by analysts at JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs.

Simultaneously, Bayer received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for Asundexian, branded as Sunharbo, for the prevention of secondary stroke. This makes Asundexian the first FXIa inhibitor approved in China. The approval is based on the Oceanic-Stroke study, which demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke when combined with antiplatelet therapy, without increasing the rate of major bleeding. This represents a potential successor to Bayer’s former blockbuster drug, Xarelto, in a key market.

These developments arrive as Bayer navigates declining revenues from established drugs like Xarelto and Eylea, as they face generic competition. The positive Nubeqa data and Asundexian approval provide potential catalysts for future revenue growth. Investors are responding favorably to these developments, as evidenced by the stock price increase, suggesting renewed confidence in Bayer’s pharmaceutical pipeline and strategic direction.