Bayer and Trius Therapeutics to develop and commercialize new antibiotic for specific skin infections and pneumonia

ENP Newswire - 28 July 2011

Release date- 27072011 - Berlin, Germany- Bayer HealthCare and Trius Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, California, today announced that they have signed an exclusive agreement to develop and commercialize Trius' lead antibiotic, torezolid phosphate (torezolid), in China, Japan and all other countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, excluding North and South Korea.

The companies agreed to collaborate on the development of the compound, which is already in Phase III clinical development in the US and the EU, in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and pneumonia caused by Gram-positive bacteria both globally and in the Bayer territory. Trius retains full development and commercialization rights for the United States, Canada and the European Union.

Bayer will pay Trius 25 million US Dollar upfront and will partly bear future development costs required for global approval in ABSSSI and pneumonia. In addition, Trius is eligible to receive up to 69 million US Dollar upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones and will receive double-digit royalties on net sales of torezolid in the licensed territory.

'Bacterial infectious diseases represent one of the largest therapeutic areas in China and continue to grow rapidly there and in other emerging markets. This collaboration is a key element in our strategy of bringing innovative medicines to patients, especially in emerging markets', said Dr. Jorg Reinhardt, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer HealthCare.

'Bayer's commitment to the infectious disease area and their depth and breadth of experience in these markets makes them an ideal partner for Trius', said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., President and CEO of Trius.

About Torezolid Phosphate (Torezolid)

Torezolid phosphate is an IV and orally administered second generation oxazolidinone in Phase III clinical development in the US and the EU for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, the first such trial to be initiated under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA).

Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), a new FDA classification for complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI), are a significant and growing problem throughout the world. ABSSSI are infections that involve deeper tissue or require surgical intervention (e.g. cellulitis, major cutaneous abscesses, and infected wounds) or are associated with a significant underlying disease (e.g. diabetes or systemic immunosuppression) that complicates response to therapy. A variety of pathogens may be identified in ABSSSI but the two most common Gram-positive pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The significant increase in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in community as well as hospital acquired infections has resulted in a need for therapy of ABSSSI that is effective against MRSA.

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