FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline
and the NFL Announce Legend
Mike Ditka to be Spokesperson for
National Men’s Health Education Campaign
Hall of Famer Will Help Launch “Tackling
Men’s Health” Program
West Haven, CT, Philadelphia, PA and New York,
NY, July 31, 2003 – Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Bayer),
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the National Football League (NFL) announced today
Mike Ditka as the spokesperson for the NFL’s national men’s health education
campaign. The program will be called “Tackling Men’s Health,” and will
address critical health issues impacting millions of men.
“Tackling Men’s Health” is an integral component of
the groundbreaking multi-year sponsorship agreement with Bayer and GSK that
was recently announced by the NFL. This represents the first multi-year
official sponsorship for the NFL with pharmaceutical companies. Bayer and
GSK will be “Proud Sponsors of the NFL” which includes exclusive rights in
the men’s health category..
Bayer and GSK signed a co-promotion and co-development agreement for LEVITRA
â (vardenafil HCI), which is an
investigational new drug awaiting approval from FDA.
“It’s an honor for me
to be associated with such an important program that will generate awareness
of critical men’s health issues that affect guys like me,” said Ditka. “I’ve
had experience with some health issues in my own life. I look forward to
the challenge of using that experience to motivate men to take action and
help take care of themselves. Taking care of your health should be a part
of everyone’s game plan.”
Ditka, one of the most popular and recognizable
personalities in sports, played 12 years in the NFL as a talented and
versatile tight end. He served as a coach in the NFL for 14 years, leading
the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX. In 1988 he was inducted into
the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Today he is a successful restaurateur,
broadcaster and public speaker.
“Mike Ditka is an
excellent choice to be a spokesperson for the Tackling Men’s Health
initiative,” said John Collins, NFL
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales.
“He’s a legend, a Hall of Famer, who commands tremendous respect from our
fans. He understands the health issues that this program will address and
has a great ability to communicate – as he has proven both on and off the
playing field.”
About Bayer
Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation is part of the worldwide operations of
Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG. Bayer HealthCare is one of the
world's leading innovators in the health care and medical products industry.
Bayer HealthCare combines the global activities of the business groups of
Bayer AG in the fields of Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care,
Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. More than 34,000 employees support the
worldwide operations of Bayer HealthCare.
Our work at Bayer HealthCare is to discover and manufacture innovative
products for the purpose of improving human and animal health worldwide. Our
products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing
and treating disease.
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material
differences between the actual future results, financial situation,
development or performance of the company and the estimates given here.
These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability
whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to
future events or developments.
About GSK
GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based
pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the
quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live
longer.
Under the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, the company cautions investors that any forward-looking
statements or projections made by the company, including those made in this
Announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect
the Group's operations are discussed under risk factors in the Company's
Preliminary Announcement of Results for the Year Ended 31st December 2002.
Contacts:
Michael
Fleming Lara Crissey
GlaxoSmithKline Bayer HealthCare
215-751-7074 203-812-6558
michael.d.fleming@gsk.com
lara.crissey.b@bayer.com
Brian McCarthy Rob Bronfeld
National Football League Alan Taylor Communications
212-450-2069 212-714-1280, ext.
291
mccarthyb@nfl.com
rob@alantaylor.com
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