Polyphor, Roche in Antibiotic Pact

Polyphor Ltd. and Roche have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement to develop and commercialize Polyphor’s investigational macrocycle antibiotic, POL7080, for patients suffering from bacterial infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Polyphor will receive an upfront payment of CHF 35 million, as well as development, regulatory and commercial milestones of as much as CHF 465 million, and royalties on sales. Polyphor will retain the option to co-promote an inhaled formulation of POL7080 in Europe.
 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounts for one in every 10 hospital-acquired infections in the U.S. and is listed as one of the six most dangerous drug-resistant microbes. POL7080 is a new class of antibiotics that kills Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a novel mode of action and has demonstrated clinical safety and tolerability in a Phase I trial.
 
“As part of our Infectious Diseases research strategy we focus on areas of high unmet medical need, where we feel we can make the most difference for patients. We are excited to partner with Polyphor as we build a portfolio of novel antibiotics,” said Janet Hammond, head of Infectious Diseases Discovery & Translational Area in Roche pRED. “As the incidence of drug-resistant infections is creating an urgent demand for new therapeutic options, we look forward to adding this potentially important, targeted agent with a novel mechanism of action to our portfolio of innovative medicines.”