- Corporate
Ceftobiprole
Ceftobiprole belongs to a well
accepted class of antibacterial agents known as cephalosporins that are used to
treat serious life-threatening infections Ceftobiprole is a new drug for the
treatment of the increasing number of patients with severe
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
Ceftobiprole’s broad spectrum activity, which encompasses Gram-positive
and Gram-negative bacteria, including anti-pseudomonal activity similar to
cefepime, suggests for the first time the potential for empirical mono therapy
for complicated skin and skin structure infections as well as
healthcare-associated pneumonia.
The rights for ceftobiprole will be transferred from Cilag GmbH
International, a Johnson & Johnson company, back to Basilea.
About complicated skin infections
Complicated skin and soft tissue
infections are among the most common infections in the hospital setting. Staphylococcus
aureus, a Gram-positive microbe, is the predominant germ in skin
infections. In recent years methicillin resistant strains of S. aureus
have become increasingly common and have been associated with increased
morbidity and mortality. Patients with chronic wounds or those who have
recently received antibiotics may also be infected by Gram-negative microbes.
This is frequently the case for diabetic patients with foot infections.
Treatment of diabetic foot infections requires broad-spectrum intravenous
antibiotics and may include hospitalization and surgery. Broad-spectrum
antibiotics that cover resistant bacteria are often needed for the treatment of
more severe skin infections.
The need of new antibacterial
agents
Each year approximately 5 million
patients worldwide are treated for cSSSI. An additional 5 million patients are
treated for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in hospitals and 2.5 million
patients for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). With the rising incidence of
MRSA, drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and the threat of
community-acquired MRSA (cMRSA), an increasing number of patients with severe
skin infections and pneumonia may no longer respond to traditional antibiotic
treatment. There is a growing need for first-line broad-spectrum antibacterials
that also cover resistant bacteria.
Ceftobiprole is specifically
designed to bind the penicillin-resistant targets in Gram-positive cocci,
resulting in potent bactericidal activity towards MRSA and penicillin-resistantStreptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP). The antibiotic has demonstrated a
broad-spectrum profile targeting other Gram-positive as well as Gram-negative
pathogens. In addition, the antibiotic has shown a low potential to select for
resistance in vitro. Ceftobiprole is expected to combine the
well-established advantages of the cephalosporin antibiotic class with an
enhanced Gram-positive antibacterial spectrum.
© 2010 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd.
