Optimer sales and marketing update

Optimer will implement a hospital contracting initiative to reduce the cost of Dificid fidaxomicin for inpatients in acute care hospitals. Optimer hopes the program will address the cost barrier to prescribing Dificid and possibly expand the general use in the retail market. Details on the strategy will be announced at a conference call on Oct. 8. Net revenue of Dificid for the six months ended June 30 was $29.6 million. Optimer launched Dificid in the U.S. in July 2011 and in Canada in June 2012.

In August, Optimer said CMS will provide hospitals with additional reimbursement payments beyond the predetermined standard rates for the use of antibiotic Dificid in an inpatient setting (see BioCentury, Aug. 6). ...