Cempra wins $58M BARDA contract for lead antibiotic

Chapel Hill, NC-based Cempra ($CEMP) has won a $58 million contract from BARDA to develop its lead, late-stage antibiotic for bioterror threats aimed at a pediatric population. Solithromycin is a next-gen macrolide antibiotic in the fluoroketolide family currently in Phase III development for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in adults. "We view BARDA's funding of this project as recognition of the potential of solithromycin to have broad utility in all age groups," said Cempra CEO Prabhavathi Fernandes. Release