Cipla USA Acquires Zemdri (Plazomicin) from Achaogen to Expand Antibiotic Portfolio for Complicated Urinary Tract Infections

On July 25, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned that pharmaceutical company Cipla USA had acquired Zemdri, a prescription drug developed by Achaogen. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Following this acquisition, Cipla USA will obtain global rights to Zemdri and expand its product portfolio in key areas such as central nervous system disorders, pulmonary drug delivery, and institutional care products.

Achaogen is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Zemdri, Achaogen’s first commercial product, is an intravenous medication. It received FDA approval in June of last year. The drug is indicated for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults that are not responsive to other therapies. Part of its research and development was funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In April this year, Achaogen filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy filing stated that Achaogen would be delisted from the Nasdaq, with its bid to be submitted on May 29, the auction to begin on June 3, and the auction to conclude on June 13.

Cipla USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cipla Ltd., is dedicated to providing high-quality products at affordable prices. Leveraging its extensive pharmaceutical expertise, Cipla USA develops innovative products and advanced drug delivery systems to deliver effective healthcare solutions for patients in the United States.

In 2015, Cipla USA acquired U.S. generic drug manufacturers InvaGen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Exelan Pharmaceuticals Inc. for approximately $550 million. In 2016, Cipla USA sold its equity stake in Chase Pharmaceuticals to Allergan Inc., receiving an upfront payment of $125 million. This April, Cipla USA announced it would acquire a 30% stake in the South African healthcare company Brandmed (Pty) Ltd for $4.6 million.

“With our extensive expertise in antibiotics, we are well-positioned to commercialize Zemdri globally,” said Umang Vohra, Managing Director and Global CEO of Cipla USA, commenting on the transaction.

(Compiled by Hu Yifan)