- 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 the potential for empirical monotherapy for complicated skin and skin structure infections as well as healthcare-associated pneumonia.
A European
Marketing Authorization Application for ceftobiprole for the treatment of
pneumonia in the hospital has been accepted for review in October 2012.
Basilea owns the full worldwide rights to
ceftobiprole.
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.
© 2013 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd.
