Licensing deal for Basilea in sight

The completion of the pneumonia data audit and confirmation of the timeline for Switzerland-based Basilea’s (SIX: BSLN) European data filing of ceftobiprole brings the company a step closer to achieving a licensing deal for the drug, comment analysts at Edison Investment Research. Global sales of other broad spectrum antibiotics are in a high growth phase.

The investment case for Basilea is strongly dependent on securing US and/or European partnerships for ceftobiprole, the analysts say. Meanwhile, the US future for the drug hinges on a decision from the US Food and Drug Administration on the need for further trials. Ceftobiprole was formerly partnered with US drug major Johnson & Johnson, which returned rights to the MRSA drug candidate a couple of years ago (The Pharma Letter February 22, 2010)

The independent data audit of ceftobiprole in hospital and community acquired pneumonia is now complete. However, there will be six months for data analysis before data filing with the European Medicines Agency in the second half of 2012.