HHS sponsors Basilea's new broad spectrum antibiotic development

A broad spectrum antibiotic that could become the first of its kind to treat specific Gram negative and Gram positive infections as well as tularemia, a bioterrorism threat, will undergo the last steps in development with support from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

Under an 18-month, $20 million agreement between ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Swiss drugmaker Basilea Pharmaceutica (SIX: BSLN), the company will conduct Phase III clinical studies of the antibiotic, ceftobiprole, in treating specific Gram-negative and Gram-positive infections.

Accord could be extended to a total of up to around $100 million