Basilea announces new EC approval for Cresemba

The European Commission (EC) has extended the indications of the antifungal Cresemba (isavuconazole) to pediatric patients, says Swiss drugmaker Basilea Pharmaceutica (SIX: BSLN)

The development has triggered a 10 million Swiss franc ($111.8 million) milestone payment from Basilea’s license partner Pfizer (NYSE: PFE).

Dr Marc Engelhardt, chief medical officer of Basilea, said: “We are very pleased to have received the European Commission decision to approve Cresemba for the use in children who suffer from invasive aspergillosis or mucormycosis. These severe mold infections primarily affect children suffering from hematologic malignancies, or immunodeficiency disorders and there is a high unmet medical need for new antifungal treatment options in the pediatric population. We are pleased that access to Cresemba is now available to this vulnerable patient population in Europe.”