With the Medimmune collaboration VERY close to getting to that...

With the Medimmune collaboration VERY close to getting to that final stage of the collaboration for the superbug Pseudemonas (signed deal in August 2010), you cannot help but wonder which Pharma is next in line.

I recently came across an exciting company called Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. who is working to combat a group of bacteria largely neglected by drugmakers with a medicine analysts say may have $2 billion in sales potential. They are very keen on gram negative bacteria. I find it very strange that Phylogica have only signed one deal in this red hot arena. I believe a lot discussions are going on behind closed doors in this space. Could Cubist be next in line?

Resistant Bacteria Neglected by Drugmakers Give Cubist $2 Billion Market

Cubist recently launched a new website called www.Battlingsuperbugs.com. I am still making my way through this wonderful resource but for those interested to learn more, here's a quick introduction....

Cubist has launched a new website, www.battlingsuperbugs.com, providing interested parties with a resource on multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Concern is growing about the public health threat caused by infections due to a growing array of MDR pathogens. This website brings together the views of physicians, scientists, policy experts and others about the problem and what we can do about it. We are very excited about this micro site, and hope it will provide a valuable resource and information repository as well as help elevate Cubist as a thought leader. The corporate communications team welcomes thoughts on the site overall, the content, layout, and areas of focus.

Among the many multimedia information resources on the site, featured are video clips of Johns Hopkins University Professor John Bartlett, MD, a world-renowned infectious disease expert and founding director of the Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies at Johns Hopkins; Cubist’s Steven C. Gilman, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Research & Development and Chief Scientific Officer; and Santosh Vetticaden, MD, Ph.D., Senior Vice-President, Chief Medical and Development Officer. Collectively, they provide context for the problem being faced increasingly by clinicians around the world. In addition to the scientific perspective provided, those interested in the health policy aspects surrounding antibiotic development will find helpful resources including the views of Barry Eisenstein, M.D., Cubist’s Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs, who frequently writes and speaks about the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. He is a strong proponent of implementing comprehensive policies to address the serious consequences of antimicrobial resistance – including the need to address this growing public health crisis and incentives for manufacturers to develop new antibiotics.

Dr. Gilman emphasizes the importance of a resource such as Batlingsuperbugs.com, stating, “It is crucially important that the various audiences being served by the new website have access to the highest quality information as we enter a period where the rise of antibiotic resistance is raising fears that we may be nearing the dawn of a post-antibiotic era.”

GLTA,
Tony