Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Acquires Rights to Novel Antibiotic CONTEPO™

Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Acquires Rights to Novel Antibiotic CONTEPO™

by John Conrad| Jul 19, 2024| NewsBrief

In a strategic move to expand its specialty biopharmaceuticals portfolio, Meitheal Pharmaceuticals has acquired the North American rights to CONTEPO™ (fosfomycin for injection) from Nabriva Therapeutics. The announcement, made on July 18, 2024, marks a significant step in Meitheal's efforts to address the growing concern of antibiotic resistance.

CONTEPO™, a novel intravenous antibiotic, has shown promising results against multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains that cause complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). With its unique mechanism of action, CONTEPO™ could potentially fill critical gaps in the current antibiotic treatment landscape.

Tom Shea, Chief Executive Officer of Meitheal, emphasized the strategic importance of this acquisition, stating, "The addition of CONTEPO™ to our robust product portfolio provides us with a novel therapeutic with the potential to address a significant unmet need around increasing antibiotic resistance."

Key points of the acquisition include:

1. Meitheal gains North American rights to CONTEPO™, including development and regulatory activities, intellectual property rights, and related technology.
2. Nabriva Therapeutics will receive payment upon closing and a royalty on net U.S. sales of CONTEPO™.
3. A New Drug Application (NDA) for CONTEPO™ is currently pending with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a decision expected later this year.
4. If approved, Meitheal plans to establish a full commercial marketing and sales organization, along with a medical science liaison team to support clinicians.

The acquisition of CONTEPO™ adds to Meitheal's growing portfolio of specialty biopharmaceuticals, following their commercial licensing agreement for XTMAB-16 in 2023. As a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company, Meitheal is well-positioned to navigate the final stages of the regulatory process and, if approved, ensure a consistent supply of this innovative antibiotic.

With an estimated three million cases of Gram-negative cUTIs treated annually in U.S. hospitals, and approximately 40% suspected to be caused by resistant strains, CONTEPO™ could play a crucial role in addressing this serious health threat.

As antibiotic resistance continues to pose challenges in healthcare, Meitheal's acquisition of CONTEPO™ represents a significant step towards providing new treatment options for patients with complicated urinary tract infections.

Read the press release on Business Wire

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