Glyphosate litigations
In February 2026, Monsanto announced a proposed US nationwide class settlement designed to resolve current and future Roundup™ (active ingredient glyphosate) claims alleging non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) injuries through a long-term claims program. Leading plaintiff law firms representing the class have filed a motion seeking preliminary approval of the settlement in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, Missouri.
The US Supreme Court had previously announced in January 2026 that it would accept the Durnell case for review in the glyphosate litigations. Monsanto had petitioned the court in April 2025 to hear this case and address the contradictory judgments by federal appellate courts on the cross-cutting question of whether federal law preempts state-based failure-to-warn claims. The company expects a decision on the merits during the Supreme Court’s 2026 session, which ends in June.
The proposed class combined with Supreme Court review in the Durnell case are independently necessary and mutually reinforcing steps in the company’s multi-pronged strategy designed to significantly contain the glyphosate litigation.
Innovations and product approvals
Pharmaceuticals
Over the course of 2025 and early 2026, we made significant progress in the fields of ophthalmology, oncology, women’s healthcare, cardiovascular disease and radiology.
In ophthalmology, aflibercept 8 mg (brand name Eylea™ 8 mg) was approved in China in May for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration. Also in May, we announced the submission of an application in Japan seeking approval of aflibercept 8 mg for the treatment of patients with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion. In June, aflibercept 8 mg with extended treatment intervals of up to six months was approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of two retinal diseases: neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. This was followed in January 2026 by approval in the EU for the treatment of patients with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion including branch, central and hemiretinal vein occlusion.
In oncology, darolutamide (brand name Nubeqa™) was approved in June in the United States for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. In July, we announced marketing authorization approval in the EU for Nubeqa™ in combination with androgen deprivation therapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. In February 2026, the Chinese National Medical Products Administration likewise granted regulatory approval for Nubeqa™ in this indication. In November, furthermore, sevabertinib (brand name Hyrnuo™) was granted accelerated approval in the United States for the treatment of patients with advanced HER2-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer who have received prior therapy.
In women’s healthcare, we received marketing authorization in July in the United Kingdom and Canada, and in October in the United States for elinzanetant (brand name Lynkuet™) for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (also known as hot flashes) associated with menopause. In November, Lynkuet™ was granted marketing authorization in the EU for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause or caused by adjuvant endocrine therapy related to breast cancer.
In cardiovascular disease, we received marketing authorization in the United States in July and in Japan in December for finerenone (brand name Kerendia™) for the treatment of adult patients with chronic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. Applications seeking approval of finerenone in the same indication were also submitted in China and the EU. In November, furthermore, we reported positive topline results from the global Phase III OCEANIC-STROKE trial with the investigational drug asundexian for secondary stroke prevention. The study met its primary efficacy and safety endpoints.
In radiology, we filed for approval of gadoquatrane in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the central nervous system and other body regions in adults and pediatric patients including term neonates in Japan in May and in the United States in June, followed by the EU in July and China in August.
Crop Science
In July, we reported that we had submitted registration applications for our novel herbicide icafolin-methyl in the European Union, the United States, Brazil and Canada. Icafolin is part of our blockbuster pipeline and offers a new mode of action for post-emergent weed control in broad-acre crops. We expect market launches from 2028 onward with initial availability in Brazil.
Resolution of licensing agreements
In January 2026, Bayer reached an agreement to resolve a dispute regarding the use of its proprietary technology and received €448 million. This will be recognized as licensing revenue in the first quarter of 2026 under the Soybean Seed & Traits strategic business entity within Crop Science. The company also reached an agreement to resolve a licensing dispute in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the licensing revenue mainly accounted for in the Corn Seed & Traits strategic business entity.
Portfolio changes
In February 2026, we completed the divestment of the anti-infective brand Avelox™ to Ascenda Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). The selling price for the global Avelox™ business, for which China is the main market, was €250 million, resulting in other operating income of the same amount.
Financing activities
In February 2026, Bayer AG and Bayer US Finance LLC, United States, jointly signed an US$8 billion bank loan facility. The facility has a tenor of one year, plus two six-month extension options. Repayment of drawings against this facility by Bayer US Finance LLC is guaranteed by Bayer AG. The participating banks are entitled to terminate the credit facility in the event of a change of control at Bayer and demand repayment of any loans that may have been granted under this facility up to that time.
Board of Management
In July, the Supervisory Board of Bayer AG unanimously decided to extend the contract of CEO Bill Anderson until March 31, 2029. His contract was originally set to end on March 31, 2026.
In November, the Supervisory Board of Bayer AG appointed Dr. Judith Hartmann to the company’s Board of Management, effective March 1, 2026. She will succeed Wolfgang Nickl as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on June 1, 2026.