Allergan To Collaborate With AstraZeneca To Commercialize ATM-AVI

(RTTNews) - Allergan plc (AGN) Friday announced a collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop and commercialize ATM-AVI (aztreonam and avibactam) for antibiotic-resistant gram-negative infections.

ATM-AVI is an investigational, fixed-dose antibiotic combining aztreonam and avibactam.

Through the collaboration, the two companies will evaluate the combination to treat serious infections caused by metallo ßlactamase MBL-producing Gram-negative pathogens, a difficult-to-treat sub-type of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Thus the companies plans to evolve a new treatment option for patients with MBL-producing pathogens. Allergan will maintain commercialization rights in the U.S. and Canada and AstraZeneca will maintain commercialization rights in all other countries.

Hans Sijbesma, managing director, antibiotics business unit, AstraZeneca said, "This collaboration represents an important milestone in the development of ATM-AVI. Antimicrobial resistance is a huge global health challenge, which is increasingly at the forefront of the public health agenda. We look forward to working with health authorities to help bring this much-needed new treatment option to patients."