Pfizer acquires rights to Oscient antibiotic in Mexico

Pfizer’s Mexican arm has agreed to pay Oscient an up-front payment, milestones for attaining certain regulatory and sales goals as well as royalties on future sales. Specific financial terms were not disclosed.

Factive (gemifloxacin mesylate) is currently approved in the US for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) of mild to moderate severity and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB).

“For us, this partnership with Pfizer in Mexico underscores the potential of Factive,” stated Steven Rauscher, president and CEO of Oscient. “Our business strategy, outside of the US, is to build the Factive brand through partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies in our licensed territories. This deal represents the first of similar agreements that we hope to establish in Canada and in certain European countries.”

Pfizer will work with the regulatory agency in Mexico to facilitate the marketing approval of Factive. Oscient will be the sole provider of product to Pfizer Mexico.