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For Immediate Release

Makrolon® Polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience Contributes to Fresenius Medical Care DALI® Adsorber Housings

February 12, 2007

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 12, 2007 — Germany-based medical technology company Fresenius Medical Care has developed a new technology called DALI® (Direct Adsorption of LIpoproteins) for the treatment of patients with severe lipometabolic disorders. The technology enables LDL cholesterol to be extracted from the blood through a process called therapeutic apheresis. The main component of this technology is an adsorber filled with a special material that bonds the LDL cholesterol. To ensure durability and safety of the adsorber’s housing, a plastic with excellent impact resistance was required. To meet this demand, the manufacturer chose Makrolon® 2458 polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) for the adsorber.

"The first choice when approached about this application was Makrolon 2458 polycarbonate," explains Markus Krieter, Medical Market Manager in the Polycarbonates Business Unit of BMS AG. "The polycarbonate is sufficiently tough and stiff, which protects it from becoming easily damaged in the often hectic everyday hospital environment. Our material also readily withstands the pressurized steam sterilization of the adsorber in the DALI system, where temperatures reach at least 250°F [120°C] for more than 20 minutes."

A further benefit of the polycarbonate is its high transparency, which allows continuous visual monitoring of the blood treatment by hospital personnel, thereby enhancing patient safety. Makrolon 2458 polycarbonate meets the biocompatibility requirements of the FDA-modified ISO 10993-1 tests with human contact time of 30 days or less.

In the DALI treatment, the patient’s blood is removed from an arm vein and passed through the adsorber where the LDL cholesterol sticks to the adsorber globules. The cleaned blood reenters the patient’s body via another arm vein. More than 160,000 patients have been treated with DALI since its introduction.

Because of the consistent formula and long-term availability of BMS materials, Bayer conducts the majority of its business with well-known medical technology manufacturers through exclusive development collaborations. "It is very important to us to be viewed as a reliable collaborator. We, therefore, safeguard the long-term availability of our medical technology materials, provide reliable delivery and offer formulations for these substances that remain constant," explains Krieter. In addition, BMS also monitors changes to standards in the medical technology sector and independently tests the materials affected to achieve compliance.

The company provides a comprehensive service to support manufacturers of medical instruments and related plastics processors. "We help at every stage of the process, from the initial idea and design of a plastic component to mold construction and production launch," says Krieter. For instance, CAE tools are available for analyzing the thermal expansion and static and dynamic properties of a component. BMS may also perform thermogravimetric measurements and screening experiments for contact media durability and rheological calculations, for example, to relocate inconvenient weld lines or optimize mold filling behavior.

For more information about BMS’ Makrolon polycarbonate resin, call 1-800-662-2927 or visit www.bayermaterialscienceNAFTA.com.

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 19,000 employees at 40 sites around the world and 2005 sales of 10.7 billion euros. Our innovative developments in coating, adhesive and sealant raw materials, polycarbonates, polyurethanes and thermoplastic urethane elastomers enhance the design and functionality of products in a wide variety of markets, including the automotive, construction, electrical and electronics, household and medical industries, and the sports and leisure fields. Our inorganic basic chemicals unit produces chlorine and related essential products for the chemicals industry. Let us give life to your vision. Bayer MaterialScience — Where VisionWorks.

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2005 net sales of 7.3 billion euros and employed 16,200 at year end. Bayer’s three operating companies — Bayer HealthCare LLC, Bayer CropScience LP and Bayer MaterialScience LLC — improve people’s lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases, protect crops and advance automobile safety and durability.

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Media Contact(s)
Name:	Scott Hunsberger
Phone:	412-777-5200
Company:	Bayer MaterialScience
Email:	scott.hunsberger@bayerbms.com

The housing of the DALI adsorber system is made from impact-resistant Makrolon 2458 polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience, which can withstand pressurized hot-steam sterilization where temperatures reach at least 250°F for more than 20 minutes.