In a first-of-its-kind arrangement, Shionogi has reached an agreement with the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership to license an antibiotic to dozens of mostly low- and middle-income countries in a bid to combat antimicrobial resistance.
The deal involves cefiderocol, which is used to treat gram-negative bacteria, a type of superbug that is increasingly resistant to most antibiotics. The bacteria, which can cause such infections as cholera, pose a particular threat for people with weak or undeveloped immune systems, including newborns, aging populations, people undergoing surgery, and patients being treated for cancer.
As part of the agreement, the nonprofit will look to sublicense the intellectual property rights and transfer technology to one or two other manufacturers, which will make the medicine for 135 countries, including all low-income nations, most lower middle- and upper middle-income countries, and select high-income countries. The goal is to make the treatment available to a significant proportion of the global population that is living in areas most affected by antibiotic resistance.
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