Everest adds another antibiotic to pipeline through VenatoRx deal

C-Bridge-backed Everest Medicines Ltd. (Shanghai, China) will receive exclusive rights from VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Malvern, Pa.) to develop and commercialize VNRX-5133 in combination with cefepime. The deal covers Greater China, South Korea and Southeast Asia and includes up to $114 million in an upfront and milestone payments, plus royalties.

The license covers the combination to treat complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), infections due to carbapenem-resistant pathogens, and hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP). VNRX-5133 is an IV broad-spectrum beta lactamase (LACTB) inhibitor; cefepime is a cephalosporin antibiotic...