Shares of Switzerland's Basilea jumped to record heights after the drug developer announced positive results for a late-stage study of its experimental antibiotic, ceftobiprole. Overall, 91 percent of patients responded to the drug compared to 90 percent receiving a combinational therapy. About 86 percent of volunteers with a diabetic foot infection responded compared to 82 percent taking a comparative therapy. The cure rate for MRSA patients was 91 percent for ceftobiprole compared to 86 percent for a separate therapy. Analysts say that the drug has a good chance of quickly becoming a blockbuster therapy with more than a billion dollars in annual revenue. Antibiotics begin losing their effectiveness as soon as they're marketed and health officials are particularly concerned about the growth of MRSA and other superbugs [1].
- check out the press release [2]
- here's the report [3] on Basilea from MarketWatch
Related Articles:
Basilea gets fast track for antifungal drug. Report [4]
MRSA-CA danger to healthcare workers. Report [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/new-cdc-guidelines-target-drug-resistant-infections/2006-10-20
[2] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/node/5183
[3] http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/swiss-biotech-basileas-shares-jump/story.aspx?guid=%7B1857FC0D-E1D2-42A6-9F75-7230950B9142%7D
[4] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/basilea-gets-fast-track-for-antifungal-drug/2006-05-02
[5] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/mrsa-ca-danger-to-healthcare-workers/2006-09-21