Bayer warns doctors on rare Avelox side effects

FRANKFURT, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Bayer (BAYG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is sending letters warning doctors in Europe of rare incidents of severe liver and skin side effects in patients taking its Avelox antibiotic, the German drugs and chemicals group said on Thursday.

Bayer has included the additional warnings in the packaging of Avelox products since autumn last year after some incidents of severe side effects were monitored, but is now reinforcing this by writing to doctors.

"The side effects are very rare. But when it happens, it is quite severe to patients. We want doctors to be more aware," said Yvonne Moeller, a spokeswoman at Bayer.

Avelox, one of Bayer's top-selling drugs, saw sales of almost 400 million euros ($584.4 million) in 2006.

Bayer shares were up 1.4 percent at 58.42 euros at 1110 GMT, while the German blue-chip DAX .GDAXI index rose 0.6 percent. (Reporting by Mantik Kusjanto; Editing by Quentin Bryar)