Cubist Pharmaceuticals is a US biopharmaceutical business which sells an antibiotic called Cubicin, used to treat complex skin infections and the “superbug”, MRSA.
It is thought that US sales of Cubicin could eventually top $1bn (£617m) and Cubist’s success in the tough antibiotics market has already marked it out as a possible acquisition target.
Last month, Cubist settled a patent dispute with Israeli drug maker Teva over Cubicin, which lessened the threat of generic competition.