Forest buys Cerexa in $480M deal

Forest Laboratories has joined the lineup of drug developers bidding their way to new prospects with its agreement to buy the antibiotic developer Cerexa for $480 million in cash. Forest gains development and marketing rights for three antibiotics, including one--ceftaroline acetate--which is poised to begin a late-stage trial for skin infections. It could be launched in 2010 or 2011. If its sales break the $500 million mark in any 12-month period after the five years it is launched, Cerexa's investors will get an additional $100 million payday.

"Ceftaroline is an important late-stage development product that can address serious and life-threatening infections in the hospital setting including MRSA," said Howard Solomon, chairman and CEO of Forest. Cerexa was a 2006 Fierce 15 company.

- see this release on the deal
- here's the AP report on the buyout

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