From Jan. 1, 2018, Bayer will streamline its strategic pharmaceutical research and development activities and combine them under a single unit covering the therapeutic areas cardiology, gynecology, ophthalmology, hematology and oncology.

The new unit will be headed by Joerg Moeller, head of development in the German group’s pharmaceuticals division since Feb. 1, 2014. Moeller will continue to report to Dieter Weinand, president of Bayer's pharmaceuticals division and member of the board of management. He will also be a member of the pharmaceutical executive committee.

Andreas Busch, current head of drug discovery within the pharmaceuticals division, will leave Bayer to join another company.

"The combined organization will enable us to seamlessly steer all the important activities of research and development, with a single objective to further enhance the delivery of much needed new treatment options to patients," said Weinand.