German conglomerate expands into world's biggest medicine market

The German conglomerate that invented aspirin over a century ago wants to take over much more of your medicine cabinet.

Bayer AG is boosting its presence and brand in the United States, the world's biggest medicine market. Bayer is increasing everything from marketing and research operations in the US to the number of its nonprescription medicines in pharmacies and grocery stores.

The US expansion is part of the 153-year-old company's transformation from a chemical-and-dye manufacturer, a business it spun off last year, to a pure "life sciences" company focused on the health of people, pets and plants.