Prokaryotics and Basilea enter collaboration to develop a novel broad-spectrum antifungal for severe invasive infections

Core Viewpoint - Prokaryotics Inc. has entered into a collaboration with Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd to develop a first-in-class broad-spectrum antifungal aimed at treating severe invasive infections caused by resistant fungal strains [1][2][4]. Company Overview - Prokaryotics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-infectives, particularly targeting life-threatening microbial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and fungi [7][8]. - Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative drugs for severe bacterial and fungal infections, with successful products like Cresemba and Zevtera already launched [6]. Collaboration Details - The partnership will focus on antifungal molecules with a novel mode of action to address the unmet medical needs of patients suffering from invasive infections caused by Candida, Aspergillus, and rare molds [2][4]. - Basilea will provide an undisclosed upfront payment and milestone payments to Prokaryotics, with potential total payments reaching up to USD 48.5 million, along with tiered low single-digit royalties on global net sales [4]. Market Need - The World Health Organization has highlighted the urgent need for new antifungal agents due to increasing resistance to existing treatments, with serious fungal infections causing approximately 1.7 million deaths annually, comparable to tuberculosis and malaria [3][5].