Basilea Pharmaceutica enters into an exclusive licensing agreement with Venatorx Pharmaceuticals to acquire the global rights to the phase 3-ready oral antibiotic ceftibuten-ledaborbactam etzadroxil for treating complicated urinary tract infections.

Target Information

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Allschwil, Switzerland, announces its recent strategic acquisition of an exclusive licensing agreement with Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The agreement secures the global rights to ceftibuten-ledaborbactam etzadroxil, an advanced oral antibiotic currently in phase 3 clinical development, aimed at treating complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) including pyelonephritis. This innovative antibiotic combines ceftibuten, a well-studied orally bioavailable cephalosporin, with ledaborbactam etzadroxil, a novel beta-lactamase inhibitor prodrug.

Ceftibuten-ledaborbactam etzadroxil has demonstrated efficacy against Enterobacterales, a group known for multidrug-resistant strains that significantly contribute to the prevalence of cUTI. In the United States, cUTI account for an alarming 600,000 hospital admissions annually, highlighting the urgent demand for effective oral treatments that can minimize hospitalization. Prior studies indicate that this combination is both safe and well tolerated, illustrating its potential to address a crucial healthcare gap.

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