BASEL, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwire - February 11, 2009) - Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) implements previously announced plans to strengthen commercialization and focuses on high priority programs.
Basilea has implemented its previously announced plans to focus resources on commercialization. The company plans to add a total of approximately one hundred new positions world-wide as its products are launched in additional countries. At the same time the company is focusing on high priority programs. As a result it will reduce headquarter functions by nineteen positions and create seventeen new positions in Switzerland. The company has reviewed the results of consultation proceedings with employees. Employees whose positions were reduced have been transferred to new positions where possible. Newly created positions will support the commercialization of Toctino® and ZEFTERA™/Zevtera™ internationally and the development of Basilea’s phase III programs. The company continues to focus on bringing its innovative later-stage research programs rapidly into the clinic.
About Basilea
Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Basilea’s integrated research and development operations are currently focused on new antibacterial, antifungal and oncology agents to fight drug resistance and on the development of dermatology drugs. Basilea’s products are targeted to satisfy high medical and patient needs in the hospital and specialty care setting. The company owns a diversified portfolio including two commercialized drugs (alitretinoin, ceftobiprole) and one investigational drug in phase III (isavuconazole). Toctino® (alitretinoin) is marketed in the United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany and is approved in Finland and France. Alitretinoin has been recommended for approval in six additional EU Member States and is under regulatory review in Canada and Switzerland. Furthermore a phase III clinical trial on alitretinoin for the treatment of severe chronic hand eczema is ongoing in the U.S. Ceftobiprole is marketed in Canada under the brand name ZEFTERA™ and in Switzerland under Zevtera™. It received a positive opinion from the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. The company has submitted marketing applications for ceftobiprole in the U.S. and several other countries. The company has set up commercial organizations in UK, Denmark, Germany and Canada, while it is building sales and marketing organizations in other countries to commercialize alitretinoin and to co-promote ceftobiprole, subject to approval.
Ceftobiprole (ZEFTERA™/Zevtera™) is being developed through an exclusive worldwide collaboration between Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and Cilag GmbH International. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. has exercised its option to co-promote ceftobiprole in the U.S., in Canada and in the major European markets together with Ortho-McNeil, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the U.S. and the respective Janssen-Cilag companies in Europe. Basilea maintains an option to co-promote the drug in Japan and China.
Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information, please contact:
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Media Relations | Investor Relations | |----------------------------------+--------------------------------| | Jean-Christophe Britt, Ph.D. | Barbara Zink, Ph.D., MBA | | Corporate Communication & Public | Head Corporate Development | | Relations | +41 61 606 1233 | | +41 61 606 1354 | investor_relations@basilea.com | | media_relations@basilea.com | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
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