Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil

Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil, doing business as Basilea Pharmaceutica International SA, Allschwil, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria, particularly gram-negative pathogens. Registered to receive awards from the U.S. federal government since February 8, 2013, Basilea has established itself as a key player in addressing urgent global health threats. The company focuses on developing novel treatment options for serious bacterial infections in hospital settings, including bloodstream infections, pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, and urinary tract infections. Through federal contract and grant awards, Basilea has been engaged in advanced research and development of novel antibiotics, targeting high-priority pathogens identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

Basilea's contract work primarily revolves around the development of antimicrobials for the treatment of resistant fungal and bacterial infections. The company has received a significant prime federal contract award from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), valued at $267,580,657. This definitive cost-sharing contract supports Basilea's work on a new class of antibiotics targeting the lipopolysaccharide transport system in gram-negative bacteria and inhibitors of an essential enzyme (DXR) not targeted by current antibiotics. Additionally, Basilea has been awarded federal contract sub-awards through the Trustees of Boston University. These sub-awards focus on developing novel antibiotics, including a new class targeting the lipopolysaccharide transport protein A (LptA) in gram-negative bacteria and inhibitors of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR). The company's contract work aims to address high-priority pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These contracts are not set aside for specific business types, reflecting Basilea's competitive standing in the field.

In addition to its contract work, Basilea has received federal grant sub-awards for its antibiotic development programs, administered through the Trustees of Boston University as the prime grantee. The grant-funded research aligns closely with the contract work, focusing on the discovery and development of DXR inhibitors for treating infections caused by drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Basilea's grant-funded activities include hit-to-lead research, medicinal chemistry optimization, and the development of compounds with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against high-priority pathogens. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop safe and effective treatment options for serious infections, particularly nosocomial respiratory tract infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and complicated urinary tract infections. This grant-funded work complements Basilea's contract-funded efforts, contributing to the company's comprehensive approach to addressing the global threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The grant program appears to be part of a broader initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance, likely funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health or the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).