Bayer AG, the Germany-based pharmaceutical and agriculture conglomerate, has experienced significant setbacks recently, resulting in a massive drop in market value. The company lost approximately €7.6 billion ($8.3 billion), marking the biggest decline in its market value to date.

One of the major blows to Bayer was the halt of a key study on its top experimental medicine due to a lack of efficacy. This setback has put the company’s research and development efforts in jeopardy, and the pressure is mounting on the new CEO, Bill Anderson, to unveil a turnaround plan.

In addition, Bayer recently lost a crucial trial against the controversial weed killer Roundup. With several lawsuits pending, the company is faced with legal challenges that could complicate its potential spin-off of the agriculture division. Despite the verdict, Bayer plans to appeal and continues to insist that Roundup is safe for use.

The failed acquisition of Monsanto and patent expirations have further exacerbated Bayer’s woes. The conglomerate’s attempts to expand its market share and overcome anticipated losses from patent expirations have been thwarted.

Another blow to Bayer’s reputation was the termination of late-stage testing for its anti-thrombotic drug, asundexian, due to its lack of efficacy. This drug, intended to prevent stroke and systemic embolism, underperformed during clinical trials. The market opportunity for asundexian was estimated at €4 billion, making its failure greatly disappointing for the conglomerate.

Despite these setbacks, Bayer plans to continue a smaller study on asundexian, focusing on its potential for stroke prevention. However, a decision on further testing in elderly patients is still pending.

The legal risks Bayer currently faces, particularly in relation to Roundup’s alleged link to cancer, add uncertainty to the overall outlook of the company. With one trial already concluded, the conglomerate was ordered to pay over $1.5 billion. Another Roundup trial is currently ongoing in Philadelphia, with many more cases in the pipeline.

As Bayer’s new CEO, Bill Anderson faces the daunting task of navigating the company through these challenging times. The possibility of a breakup of the pharma and agriculture conglomerate is also being examined as a potential solution to the mounting problems. Only time will tell if Bayer can recover from these setbacks and regain its former glory in the pharmaceutical and agriculture sectors.