Pfizer and Basilea Pharmaceutica, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company specializing in anti-infective and oncological medicines, have signed an agreement to grant Pfizer the exclusive development and commercialization rights for Basilea’s Cresemba (isavuconazole), an antifungal drug, in China and several countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Cresemba is an antifungal medicine for treating adult patients with diagnosed invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis, two infections associated with morbidity among immunocompromised patients, such as those with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those with cancer, according to Pfizer.

Under the agreement, Pfizer will have exclusive rights to develop, distribute, and commercialize Cresemba in 16 Asian Pacific countries and China, including Hong Kong and Macao. These rights do not include Japan. In addition, Pfizer will become the marketing authorization holder for the Asia Pacific Region and China. The specific financial terms of the agreement remain confidential. The agreement is subject to customary regulatory approval.

In July 2017, Pfizer completed an agreement with Basilea to obtain the exclusive commercialization rights to Cresemba in Europe (with the exception of the Nordic countries). Since that time, Pfizer has assumed responsibility for commercializing Cresemba in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK and launched the drug in Spain with additional launches expected in 2018 and beyond.

Source: Pfizer