Cubicin(R) Granted Marketing Approval in Europe

Link: Yahoo! Finance

   Chiron Corporation (Nasdaq:CHIR - News) today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing approval for CUBICIN� (daptomycin), a first-in-class IV antibiotic. The marketing approval was granted in the 25 member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Under the approval, CUBICIN is indicated for the treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections (cSSTI) caused by Gram-positive bacteria. CUBICIN is expected to become available in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands within the next few weeks, followed by additional European countries, in accordance with local legal regulations. Gram-positive bacteria are a major cause of problematic infections in many healthcare facilities and institutions. Of particular concern are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA) and glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (VRE or GRE), particularly E. faecium, which are driving the need for new antibacterial agents. The novel mechanism of action of CUBICIN means that it is unaffected by the high-level cross-resistance that occurs with many other antibiotic classes.(1),(2)