Novartis’ Cubicin Receives Additional Approvals

Swiss drugmaker Novartis reported that Cubicin has received European Commission approval for expanded use in patients suffering from two bacterial infections that occur during hospital stays.

The two new indications approved for Cubicin (daptomycin) were right-sided infective endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus, an infection of the heart valve, and S. aureus bacteremia, a bloodstream infection, Novartis said.

Cubicin first received European approval in January 2006 for use in treating complicated skin and soft-tissue infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.

Cubicin was developed by Cubist Pharmaceuticals, which markets the product in the U.S. for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Novartis has the exclusive rights to commercialize Cubicin in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India and certain countries in Central America, South America and the Middle East.