Cubist builds out

With one in-licensed product in the clinic and compounds from its internal pipeline in preclinical development, Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. took a step toward filling out its pipeline last week when it acquired rights to an oral formulation of ceftriaxone from International Health Management Associates Inc. An infusion of $150 million in financings earlier this year provided CBST with the wherewithal to branch out, and the product it chose, which booked $1.2 billion in sales for Roche last year as the intravenous antibiotic Rocephin, should complement its product line.

CBST's lead compound is Cidecin daptomycin, a lipopeptide antibiotic that it licensed in 1997 from Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY, Indianapolis, Ind.). Injectable Cidecin is in Phase III trials to treat complicated urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and community-acquired pneumonia caused by Gram positive bacteria...