Cubist Pharmaceuticals to Acquire Calixa Therapeutics for Treatment of Multi-Drug Resistant Infections

Strategic Insights -

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, a leading acute care therapeutics company, has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Calixa Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel antibiotics to address the expanding problem of multi-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2009, subject to obtaining requisite consents and other conditions. Calixa's lead compound, CXA-201, is an intravenously administered combination of Calixa's novel anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin CXA-101 and the b-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam. This treatment is being developed to address serious infections caused by multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cubist Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire Calixa Therapeutics Inc. to develop and commercialize novel antibiotics for multi-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens.
  • Calixa's lead compound, CXA-201, is a combination of CXA-101 and tazobactam, developed to address serious infections caused by multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Calibration Therapeutics has rights to develop and commercialize CXA-201 in all territories of the world except select Asia-Pacific territories.
  • Cubist Pharmaceuticals anticipates advancing the program for cUTI (complicated urinary tract infections) and cIAI (complicated intra-abdominal infections) in the first half of 2010.
  • Cubist also expects to begin clinical studies of CXA-201 for the nosocomial pneumonia indication in the second half of 2010.
  • Assuming successful development, Cubist would expect to file a New Drug Application for CXA-201 in the second half of 2013.
  • Cubist will pay out $92.5 million in cash to Calixa stockholders upon closure of the acquisition, with potential payments of up to $310 million upon achievement of certain development, regulatory, and commercial milestones.
  • No financing will be necessary to complete the acquisition or fund the development of Calixa's product candidates.
  • Cubist believes that CXA-201 would be a potent weapon in treating serious infections caused by multi-drug-resistant strains of the Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Statistics:

  • The incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in ICUs almost doubled between 1975 and 2003, with an increase from 9.6% to 16.3% in nosocomial pneumonia and from 9.3% to 16.3% in UTIs.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most frequently isolated Gram-negative strain in ICUs in the United States, with a significant virulence and steeply increasing incidence.
  • The SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program for Europe showed similar increases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-related infections between 1997 and 2002.

Sources:

  • Clinical Trials Week
  • Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Calixa Therapeutics Inc.
  • National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS)
  • SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program
  • Astellas Pharma Inc.