Durata Therapeutics is taking over a Pfizer subsidiary focused on antibiotics called Vicuron Pharmaceuticals. It gains late-stage dalbavancin and two preclinical programs. Pfizer will retain the marketed antifungal agent Eraxis™, used to treat Candida infections in the blood, stomach, or esophagus.
Durata is a newly formed biopharmaceutical company, created by a five-member venture capital syndicate to pursue late-stage clinical development of novel antibiotic programs. The acquisition of Vicuron was funded through a stock purchase by New Leaf Venture Partners, Domain Associates, Aisling Capital, Sofinnova Ventures, and Canaan Partners.
Dalbavancin is a long-acting, injectable, lipoglycopeptide antibiotic. It is being tested in Phase III as a treatment for acute bacterial infections of the skin and skin structures. The drug has pharmacokinetic properties that enable once-a-week dosing and offers activity against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA, according to Durata.