Basilea Pharmaceutica, a Basel, Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company, has been awarded $54.8 million for two additional options on its existing contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, to support the Phase III development of ceftobiprole, a cephalosporin antibiotic.

The total potential funding of up to $108 million under the contract will enable Basilea to conduct two clinical Phase III studies to evaluate Basilea’s antibiotic, ceftobiprole, for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (bloodstream infections) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. The cross-supportive studies are part of the clinical Phase III program for regulatory approval of ceftobiprole in the United States.

The newly committed $54.8 million adds to the approximately $20-million initial funding that was allocated under the BARDA contract awarded in 2016 for the clinical Phase III development of ceftobiprole to support a potential regulatory filing in the US. The total value of the contract could reach approximately $108 million over a period of 4.5 years if pre-defined milestones are met.

Ceftobiprole shows activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.

Source: Basilea Pharmaceutica