Spexis announces sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea

Spexis AG / Key word(s): Disposal Spexis announces sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea 15-Jan-2024 / 07:15 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Allschwil, Switzerland, January 15, 2024

Spexis announces sale of preclinical antibiotics program to Basilea

 

• Basilea to pay up to CHF 2 million for a preclinical program with novel antibiotics targeting Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains
• Preclinical studies demonstrated bactericidal activity in vitro and in vivo against a broad range of Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains
• Transaction is part of Spexis’ efforts to partner or divest non-core programs and assets as the company works through its moratorium status

 

Spexis AG (SIX: SPEX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on macrocycle therapeutics for rare diseases and oncology, today announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil (SIX: BSLN) wherein Basilea will acquire from Spexis a preclinical program of antibiotics from a novel class targeting Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains.¹

The assets sold to Basilea are macrocyclic antibiotics developed within Spexis’ Outer Membrane Protein Targeting Antibiotics (OMPTA) program which selectively disrupt the lipopolysaccharide transport bridge, an essential structure in Gram-negative bacteria. This results in a loss of the integrity of the outer cell membrane, intracellular accumulation of lipopolysaccharides and killing of the bacteria. Activity has been shown in vitro and in vivo against Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli and K. pneumoniae, including strains resistant to beta-lactams and colistin, an antibiotic regarded as last-resort therapy. The program was funded in part by CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator)², a global non-profit partnership dedicated to supporting early-stage antibacterial research and development to address the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.