China-based Zai Lab and American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer have announced a strategic collaboration for the novel anti-bacterial drug XACDURO (sulbactam-durlobactam) in mainland China.

Pfizer’s affiliated companies will be exclusively authorised to undertake and perform certain commercialisation activities for XACDURO in mainland China. Through this collaboration, Zai Lab will leverage the industry-leading commercialisation infrastructure of Pfizer’s affiliated companies in the anti-infective therapeutic area to help accelerate access to this important therapy for patients in need in mainland China. The period of collaboration is for the imported product through November 2028, subject to early termination or extension.

XACDURO is the only antimicrobial agent specifically developed for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). It has been approved in the United States and in mainland China for the treatment of adult patients with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) caused by susceptible isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified carbapenem-resistant micro-organisms as an urgent threat.

Jean-Christophe Pointeau, President of Pfizer China. said, “The collaboration with Zai Lab will help enable us to work together as we strive to address the growing problem of drug resistance in the treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii, and reflects the new quality productive forces in pharmaceutical companies, helping to achieve the goal of ‘Healthy China’ initiative.”

“Drug resistance is becoming increasingly serious, with high clinical mortality rate and poor prognosis in critically ill patients, resulting in a serious disease burden. According to recent surveillance data from China resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii to the carbapenem class of antibiotics has reached approximately 74%,” said Josh Smiley, President and Chief Operating Officer of Zai Lab.