Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd.  announced that has entered into a distribution agreement with Cardiome Pharma Corp. for Basilea’s antibiotic Zevtera^®/Mabelio^® (ceftobiprole) in Europe (excluding Nordic countries) and Israel.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cardiome is granted an exclusive license to commercialize ceftobiprole in more than 30 countries in Europe and in Israel. Basilea will receive an upfront payment of CHF 5 million and is eligible for additional payments upon achievement of pre-specified regulatory and commercial milestones.

Ceftobiprole is currently approved in 13 European countries and commercialized in Italy, France, Germany, the U.K., Austria and Switzerland under the brand name Zevtera or Mabelio. Cardiome will assume responsibility for regulatory activities and commercialization in the territory. Basilea will supply Cardiome with the product at a transfer price.

Ronald Scott, Basilea’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Zevtera addresses a major worldwide medical need for antibiotics against resistant bacterial pathogens. We are very pleased to collaborate with Cardiome in European markets and Israel. Cardiome is one of the few companies that has recently launched a novel hospital antibiotic in Europe. We will support Cardiome to further increase product sales in Europe and Israel.”

He added: “We have now partnered Zevtera in about 80 countries and look forward to Zevtera being available to patients in additional territories around the world. We are also preparing phase 3 clinical trials to potentially further extend ceftobiprole’s label to include the treatment of bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, both important indications for patients suffering from resistant bacterial infections.”

Basilea remains responsible for the commercialization of ceftobiprole in the territory during the transition of the commercial activities to Cardiome, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.