Bayer and Monsanto could combine plant, pet, people products

Bayer AG, based in Leverkusen, Germany, sells a broad range of products beyond its nearly 120-year-old aspirin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines for people, vaccines and drugs for pets and livestock, and seeds and chemicals for farmers and home gardeners.

With U.S. partners, Bayer jointly markets Eylea, an injected drug for vision-destroying macular degeneration, and Xarelto, the top seller among new drugs for preventing heart attacks and strokes.

Bayer is No. 2 globally in sales of nonprescription drugs and other health products.

Besides its iconic aspirin, those include Aleve pain reliever, One A Day, Flintstones and other vitamin brands; Alka-Seltzer and Rennie for heartburn and upset stomach, laxatives MiraLax and Phillips' Colon Health, cold sore treatment Campho-Phenique, Skinoren for acne in women, Canesten for vaginal yeast and other fungal infections, eczema cream Advantan, nonprescription Claritin allergy pills, Afrin decongestant spray, Coppertone sun care products and Dr. Scholl's foot care items.

Bayer sells Advantage and Advantix, a line of topical flea and tick protection for dogs and cats, plus shampoos and defoggers; Seresto, flea-and-tick collars for dogs and cats; antibiotic Baytril for cats, dogs and farm animals; quellin, a prescription pain and inflammation drug for dogs; Drontal and Profender for killing worms in dogs and cats; Veraflox, for treating skin, wound and some internal infections in dogs and cats, and Zelnate, an immune-system stimulator for fighting respiratory disease in cattle.