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Basilea Pharmaceutica AG (SWF:BSLN) Basel, Switzerland, October 27, 2008 - Multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are causing increasing concern around the world. Basilea's novel antibiotic BAL30072 demonstrates potent in-vitro activity against some of the most difficult to treat multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.
Basilea Pharmaceutica's Head of Biology, Prof. Malcolm Page, presented in vitro data on Basilea's novel antibiotic BAL30072 at the Poster Review Session of the joint meeting of the Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in Washington DC. The research results demonstrate that BAL30072 has especially potent in vitro activity against Gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa that have acquired the reputation of "superbugs" because of their high levels of resistance to many of the currently marketed antibiotics.
In vitro antibacterial activity data presented by Mushtaq et al., Hujer et al. and Page et al. showed that the minimal inhibitory concentrations of BAL30072 for many strains of beta-lactam-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were lower than those of comparator antibiotics, providing evidence of BAL30072's high antibacterial activity in vitro.
Multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria have been appearing with increasing frequency in hospitals around the world. Such organisms are now considered by organizations such as the IDSA to pose significant threats to successful therapy of life-threatening infections. In particular, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been identified as organisms for which there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial agents.
Professor Jutta Heim, Basilea's Chief Scientific Officer, said: "BAL30072 is a unique 'Trojan-horse' antibiotic, which is transported into the bacteria by its own nutrient uptake systems. It symbolizes the creativity and performance of Basilea's antibiotic research. We are very pleased that the innovation represented by BAL30072 has been recognized by ICAAC/IDSA through the selection for the Poster Review Session. The innovative compound may potentially offer a new solution against the growing threat of multi-resistant Gram-negative pathogens".
Posters on BAL30072 displayed at ICAAC/IDSA
Interaction of BAL30072 with Penicillin-binding Proteins of Gram-negative Bacteria. - C. Dantier, E. Desarbre, M. G. P. Page; F1-1173
Thermodynamic Studies of the Inhibition of AmpC beta-Lactamase by BAL30072 and other Monobactams. - F. Danel, C. Dantier, F. Richalet, E. Desarbre, M. G. P. Page; F1-1174
In-vitro Activity of the Siderophore Monobactam BAL30072 against Multi-resistant Non-fermenting Gram-negative Pathogens. - B. Hofer, C. Müller, E. Desarbre, M. Page; F1-1175
Activity of Novel Monobactam BAL30072 against Multiresistant Non-Fermenters. - S. Mushtaq, M. Warner, D. Livermore; F1-1164
BAL 30072 a Siderophore Monobactam with Extended Activity Against Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii. - A. M. Hujer, K. M. Hujer, M. G. P. Page, R. A. Bonomo; F1-1165
Additionally posters on dihydrophthalazine antifolates (F1-3936; F1-3937, F1-3938, F1-3939) and on BAL30076 (F1-1166; F1-1167) are being displayed.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Basilea Presentations | | Beta-Lactams | | Oral presentation by Professor Malcolm Page, Basilea | | Pharmaceutica International Ltd. | | Symposium: "New Molecules from Old Classes: Is There Still Room | | for Improvement?" | | | | Crystals, Chemistry and Creativity: Where Will our New | | Anti-Infective Agents Come From? | | Oral presentation by Professor Jutta Heim, Basilea Pharmaceutica | | International Ltd. | | Symposium: "The Role of Medicinal Chemistry in Antimicrobial Drug | | Discovery" | | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
For further information please visit www.icaacidsa2008.org
About Basilea Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (SWX:BSLN). Basilea's integrated research and development operations are currently focused on new antibacterial and antifungal 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 (alitretinoin, ceftobiprole) and one investigational drug (isavuconazole) in phase III. Alitretinoin (Toctino®) is marketed in the United Kingdom and in Denmark and is approved in Germany, Finland and France. Alitretinoin has been recommended for approval in six additional EU Member States and is under regulatory review in Canada and Switzerland. Ceftobiprole is marketed in Canada and is under review by regulatory authorities in the U.S., the EU, in Switzerland and in several other countries. The company has set up commercial organizations in UK, Denmark and in Germany while it is building sales and marketing organizations to commercialize alitretinoin and to co-promote ceftobiprole in North America and in other European countries, subject to approval. 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 | |----------------------------------+--------------------------------| | Jean-Christophe Britt, Ph.D. | Barbara Zink, Ph.D., MBA | | Corporate Communication & Public | Head Corporate Development | | Relations | +41 61 606 1233 | | +41 61 606 1354 | investor_relations@basilea.com | | media_relations@basilea.com | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
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