GSK announces EU approval of impetigo treatment Altargo

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that its antibacterial treatment Altargo has been granted marketing approval from the European Commission as a treatment for a variety of infected wounds and abrasions, in addition to impetigo.

Altargo has been approved for twice-daily use over a five-day treatment regimen, with this marketing authorisation in 29 EU member states – including the UK.

This approval follows the granting of a positive recommendation for the drug by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency in March 2007.

Altargo is a pleuromutilin antibacterial that has shown outstanding activity against bacteria in vitro that have exhibited resistance to other types of treatment, using a unique mode of action.

Andew Witty, president of pharmaceuticals Europe at GSK, said: “Altargo provides doctors with an effective new treatment option for uncomplicated skin infections requiring half as many doses in fewer days than other topical antibiotics.”

He added as a result of increasing bacterial resistance to available medication, the firm was dedicated to the development of new classes of antibacterial treatments.

Following the receipt of a positive CHMP opinion in March 2007, GSK forecast that Altargo would have a “valuable clinical role” in the treatment of patients with uncomplicated skin infections.