Sequella, Pfizer deal

Pfizer granted Sequella exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize the pharma's sutezolid, which is in Phase II testing to treat tuberculosis (TB). Sequella said it plans to develop the oxazolidinone antibiotic alone for TB and in combination with the company's SQ109, a diamine antibiotic that inhibits cell wall synthesis. SQ109 is in Phase II testing for drug-sensitive TB and in a pivotal Phase IIb/III trial for multi-drug resistant TB in Russia. The companies are not disclosing financial details.

Pfizer said the deal is a result of a shift in its focus to prevention from treatment of infectious diseases. The pharma said it will no longer conduct small molecule R&D or in-license R&D stage anti-bacterials and is seeking to license its remaining early stage programs in the space. ...