BARDA awards Summit up to $62M for CDI candidate

Summit Therapeutics plc (LSE:SUMM; NASDAQ:SMMT) said HHS's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded the biotech up to $62 million to develop ridinilazole to treat Clostridium difficile infection. The contract includes $32 million up front; the remainder can be triggered by option exercises.

The funds will support two Phase III trials, which the company said will be initiated in 1H18. Ridinilazole, an oral small molecule heterocyclic antibiotic, has Fast Track and Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designations...