Bayer AG said four of its drugs in development may become blockbusters, ultimately contributing 5 billion euros ($6.5 billion) to annual revenue. Blood-thinner Xarelto has the brightest prospects, with peak sales probably exceeding 2 billion euros a year, Leverkusen, Germany-based Bayer said in a statement on its website today. Bayer’s eye drug VEGF Trap-Eye and cancer medicines Alpharadin and regorafenib have billion euro potential, the drugmaker said. Bayer will allot two-thirds of next year’s 3 billion-euro research and development budget to developing more new drugs, the company said. Bayer needs new medicines to grow as its top- selling multiple sclerosis treatment Betaseron faces competition and contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin face safety-related lawsuits in the U.S.
