Dec 21 2009
Durata Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Vicuron
Pharmaceuticals from Pfizer (PFE). Durata is a newly formed
biopharmaceutical company that was created by a five-member venture
capital syndicate to pursue late-stage clinical development of novel
antibiotic programs. The acquisition was funded through a stock purchase
by New Leaf Venture Partners, LLC, Domain Associates, LLC, Aisling
Capital, Sofinnova Ventures Inc. and Canaan Partners. Durata is focused
primarily on Vicuron’s antibiotic drug candidate, dalbavancin. Durata’s
product portfolio also includes two preclinical antibiotic programs.
Pfizer will retain the marketed anti-fungal agent, EraxisTM
(anidulafungin), which was formerly owned by Vicuron.
Dalbavancin is a long-acting, injectable, lipoglycopeptide antibiotic in
late-stage clinical development. The product candidate has generated
Phase 3 results in acute bacterial infections of the skin and skin
structures and has demonstrated the potential to offer a unique
antibiotic product profile. Specifically, dalbavancin has
pharmacokinetic properties that enable convenient once-a-week dosing,
and it offers potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Ron Hunt, Managing Director at New Leaf Venture Partners (NLV Partners),
commented, “The venture investors have worked together closely to put
dalbavancin into a well-funded company that will be laser-focused on
completing its development and making it available to physicians and
patients. Durata is a unique opportunity for us, where we can pair the
appropriate financial resources and a talented team in an exciting new
company that has the potential to take this drug all the way through
approval.”
SOURCE Durata Therapeutics, Inc.