Merck announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of the investigational antibiotic SIVEXTRO ® (tedizolid phosphate) for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adults. Merck acquired SIVEXTRO as a part of its purchase, through a subsidiary, of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The CHMP positive opinion will be reviewed by the European Commission. If the European Commission affirms the CHMP opinion, it will grant a centralized marketing authorization with unified labeling that is valid in the 28 countries that are members of the European Union, as well as European Economic Area members, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
SIVEXTRO is a once-daily oxazolidinone antibiotic developed for both intravenous and oral administration for the treatment of serious infections caused by certain Gram-positive bacteria.