AstraZeneca and Allergan to develop new combination antibiotic

AstraZeneca is to work with Allergan on the development and commercialisation of a new antibiotic for hard-to-treat infections.

The companies will work together on the development of ATM-AVI, an investigational fixed-dose antibiotic combining aztreonam and avibactam, to treat serious infections caused by metallo beta-lactamase MBL-producing Gram-negative pathogens.

This subtype of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae currently has few available treatment options and is resistant to many existing antibiotics. It is hoped that the combination of two antibiotics will prove more effective than either option alone.

Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan will maintain commercialisation rights for the product in the US and Canada, with AstraZeneca gaining the rights in all other countries.

Hans Sijbesma, managing director of the antibiotics business unit at AstraZeneca, said: "We look forward to working with health authorities to help bring this much-needed new treatment option to patients."

Collaboration is a key strategic priority for AstraZeneca, which recently partnered with GlaxoSmithKline and Johnson and Johnson to establish a translational research fund with three UK universities.