Basilea to regain full global rights to ceftobiprole
Basel, Switzerland, February 19, 2010 - Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX:BSLN) announces that after the negative decision by the CHMP today, Cilag GmbH International, a Johnson & Johnson company, has given notice that it will return global rights of ceftobiprole to Basilea.
The European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) indicated today that the study results of the clinical phase III program of ceftobiprole for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI) suggested that the drug was beneficial to patients. The Committee, however, adopted a negative opinion on the Market Authorization Application (MAA) due to concerns about the reliability of the results of the phase III studies supporting the MAA, stating that the studies had not been conducted in compliance with "good clinical practice" (GCP) in some sites.
Cilag GmbH International informed Basilea today of its notice of termination of the License Agreement for ceftobiprole after the CHMP's negative decision.
"The CHMP indicated today that study results suggested that ceftobiprole was beneficial to patients. The rejection of the New Drug Application (NDA) and MAA by health authorities in the U.S. and EU, respectively, because of data integrity issues have led to significant delays in ceftobiprole being available to patients with potentially life-threatening resistant bacterial infections," commented Dr. Anthony Man, Chief Executive Officer of Basilea. "We are pleased to gain full control of the development and commercialization of ceftobiprole. Basilea is committed to take those steps necessary to allow ceftobiprole to be more widely available to patients. We are reviewing all strategic options to protect the interests of Basilea and its shareholders."
Due to the deficiencies identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Johnson & Johnson PRD's conduct of the clinical investigations and Basilea's claim that Johnson & Johnson PRD breached the License Agreement, Basilea submitted a Request for Arbitration under the License Agreement for ceftobiprole in February 2009. Basilea's claims under arbitration include that Johnson & Johnson PRD breached the License Agreement by, among other things, causing the delay in the approval of ceftobiprole in the U.S. and the EU. Basilea will now focus on its damage claims under arbitration and anticipates an arbitration decision prior to the end of 2010.
Under the terms of the License Agreement, there will be a one-year transition period during which Cilag is required to fulfill all its obligations under the Agreement, including but not limited to development, manufacturing and commercialization. In a next step both parties need to agree on a transition plan that ensures proper management of ongoing clinical and regulatory activities, commercialization and manufacturing and allows for an efficient handover at no cost to Basilea.
Regulatory key events
In February 2010, the CHMP adopted a negative opinion on the MAA for ceftobiprole for the treatment of cSSTI. The MAA for ceftobiprole for the treatment of cSSTI had been filed by Janssen-Cilag in June 2007. After a positive opinion from the CHMP in November 2008, the European Medicines Agency took the unusual step of halting the European Commission authorization process on ceftobiprole pending completion and assessment of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) inspections.
The CHMP stated that inspections showed that the phase III studies supporting the MAA had not been conducted in compliance with GCP in some sites. Although the study results suggested that the medicine was beneficial to patients, the CHMP was concerned about how reliable the results were. The Committee therefore recommended that, in light of the uncertainty surrounding the results, ceftobiprole should not be granted marketing authorization.
In December 2009, the FDA issued to the sponsor, Johnson & Johnson PRD, a Complete Response Letter on ceftobiprole for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI), indicating that the Agency cannot approve the NDA in its present form. In order to address the deficiencies, the FDA recommended that two new, adequate, and well-controlled studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ceftobiprole for the treatment of cSSSI should be conducted. Johnson & Johnson PRD communicated at that time that it intended to discuss the best path forward with the FDA as soon as possible.
In August 2009, the FDA issued to Johnson & Johnson PRD a Warning Letter on its role as a sponsor of clinical trials. The Agency noted that under the terms of the agreement between Basilea and Cilag GmbH International, a Johnson & Johnson company, all rights and responsibilities for ceftobiprole clinical trials were transferred to Johnson & Johnson PRD and the FDA concluded that Johnson & Johnson PRD did not adhere to the applicable statutory requirements or FDA regulations governing the conduct of clinical investigations. The FDA found numerous objectionable conditions during its investigation into Johnson & Johnson PRD's role as a sponsor of the two phase III trials of ceftobiprole for the treatment of cSSSI.
Basilea granted Cilag GmbH International an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize ceftobiprole in February 2005.
About ceftobiprole
Ceftobiprole is an anti-MRSA broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic exhibiting activity against a wide spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria, including the 'superbug' methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumonia as well as many clinically important Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas. Ceftobiprole is marketed in Canada (ZEFTERA(TM)) for the treatment of cSSSI, including non-limb threatening diabetic foot infections without concomitant osteomyelitis and in Switzerland (Zevtera(TM)) for the treatment of cSSTI including diabetic foot infections without concomitant osteomyelitis.
Conference call
Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. invites you to participate in a conference call on Friday, February 19, 2010, 3:00 p.m (CET), during which the company will discuss today's press release.
Dial-in numbers are:
+41 (0) 91 610 56 00 (Europe and ROW)
+1 (1) 866 291 4166 (USA)
+44 (0) 207 107 0611 (UK)
A playback will be available 1 hour after the conference call until Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 6 p.m. (CET). Participants requesting a digital playback may dial:
+41 (0) 91 612 4330 (Europe)
+1 (1) 866 416 2558 (USA)
+44 (0) 207 108 6233 (UK)
and will be asked to enter the ID 14060 followed by the # sign.
About Basilea
Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX:BSLN). Basilea's integrated research and development operations are currently focused on new antibacterial, antifungal and oncology agents to fight drug resistance and on the development of dermatology drugs. Basilea's products are targeted to satisfy high medical and patient needs in the hospital and specialty care setting.
The company owns a diversified portfolio including two commercialized drugs (Toctino®, ZEFTERA(TM)/ Zevtera(TM)) and one investigational drug (isavuconazole) in phase III clinical development. Toctino® (alitretinoin) is marketed in Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and is approved in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Spain. Toctino® has been recommended for approval in 16 additional European countries. Furthermore, a phase III clinical program on alitretinoin for the treatment of severe chronic hand eczema is ongoing in the U.S.
Ceftobiprole is marketed in Canada under the brand name ZEFTERA(TM) and in Switzerland under Zevtera(TM). Basilea has set up commercial organizations in Canada, France, Germany, the Nordics, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, while it is building sales and marketing organizations in other countries to commercialize alitretinoin.
Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information, please contact:
Media Relations
Investor Relations
Adesh Kaul
Head Public Relations &
Corporate Communications
+41 61 606 1460
[email protected]
Barbara Zink, Ph.D., MBA
Head Corporate Development
+41 61 606 1233
This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com
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