Basilea Pharmaceutica
Swiss biopharmaceutical company focused on anti-infective medicines for serious bacterial and invasive fungal diseases.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Basilea Pharmaceutica is a Swiss biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Allschwil near Basel. The company was established in 2000 as a spin-off from F. Hoffmann-La Roche and was created to pursue pharmaceutical research and development independently of its former parent. Its operating activities are conducted through Basilea Pharmaceutica International AG, also based in Allschwil. Basilea became an independent publicly traded company in March 2004, when it listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company has developed and commercialized medicines in several specialist areas, including infectious diseases, dermatology and oncology. Over time, its strategic emphasis narrowed. Basilea exited oncology research at the beginning of 2022 and has since concentrated on anti-infective therapies, particularly treatments for severe or resistant bacterial infections and life-threatening invasive fungal diseases. This focus reflects the company’s positioning as a specialist rather than a broad-based pharmaceutical conglomerate, with products generally commercialized through regional licensing and distribution arrangements instead of a large wholly owned sales infrastructure. Its principal marketed medicines are the antifungal isavuconazole, sold under the brand name Cresemba, and the intravenous cephalosporin antibiotic ceftobiprole, sold under names including Zevtera and Mabelio. Cresemba is used for invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis and is available in intravenous and oral formulations. By the end of 2023, it had been commercialized in more than 70 countries. Commercial responsibility is shared among regional partners, including Astellas in the United States, Pfizer in much of Europe and selected Asia-Pacific markets, Hikma in the Middle East and North Africa, and Knight Therapeutics in South America. Ceftobiprole is used against serious bacterial infections, including community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia, and has activity against pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. By the end of 2023 it had been approved in 32 countries and marketed in 21. Basilea expanded its infectious-disease portfolio through partnerships and transactions. Isavuconazole was developed in collaboration with Astellas and received U.S. orphan-drug status in 2013 before gaining U.S. approval in 2015 and European approval later that year. In 2023, Basilea acquired rights to the investigational antifungal fosmanogepix from Pfizer, adding a development-stage asset to its fungal-disease pipeline. The company also received U.S. approval for expanded ceftobiprole indications in April 2024, covering Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, right-sided infective endocarditis, acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections, and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in specified adult and pediatric populations. The business has undergone substantial operational changes. Basilea established a Chinese subsidiary in 2002, later sold that entity to PHT International in 2021, and maintains subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Germany alongside its Swiss base. In 2020, it sold its former Basel headquarters in a sale-and-leaseback transaction and moved to its current Allschwil headquarters in mid-2022. In 2012, it sold worldwide rights to the dermatology medicine Toctino to Stiefel Laboratories, a GlaxoSmithKline subsidiary. According to the cited 2023 company information, Basilea Pharmaceutica AG generated CHF 157.6 million in sales and employed 147 people, while the group had generated operating and net profits consistently since the 2022 financial year. Its commercial model remains partnership-led, with licensing and distribution collaborators supporting access across more than 100 countries.
History
Basilea Pharmaceutica was created in 2000 as a corporate spin-off from F. Hoffmann-La Roche. The new company was established as an independent biopharmaceutical business while retaining a Swiss base in the Basel region. Its early activities covered several areas of pharmaceutical research, including oncology and infectious diseases. In 2002, Basilea expanded its international structure by establishing Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd. in Jiangsu Province, near Nantong and Shanghai. A major transition came in March 2004, when Basilea was listed on the Swiss stock exchange. The initial offering was priced at CHF 98 per share and generated gross proceeds of more than CHF 200 million, giving the company independent public-market financing for research and development. Basilea subsequently pursued a portfolio strategy built around specialist medicines and external commercialization relationships. The company’s first notable commercial areas included dermatology and anti-infectives. Toctino, a dermatology treatment developed by Basilea, received approval and entered European markets in 2008. In 2012, Basilea sold worldwide rights to Toctino to Stiefel Laboratories, then a GlaxoSmithKline subsidiary, for CHF 216 million. The transaction illustrated the company’s willingness to monetize mature or non-core assets while directing resources toward its strategic pipeline. Basilea’s anti-infective franchise strengthened during the 2010s. Isavuconazole, an antifungal developed with Astellas Pharma, received U.S. orphan-drug status in early 2013. Ceftobiprole, a broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic, received marketing authorization in twelve European countries in October 2013. Isavuconazole was approved in the United States in March 2015 and in the European Union in October of that year. Further approvals followed in Japan, China, Australia and several Eurasian markets. Its commercial brand, Cresemba, became one of Basilea’s principal products, with different partners responsible for sales in different regions. Ceftobiprole also expanded geographically after its initial European authorizations. Sold under the trade names Zevtera and Mabelio, it became available for selected pneumonia indications and was subsequently approved in additional European and non-European countries. By the end of 2023, the medicine had been approved in 32 countries and marketed in 21. Basilea reorganized its physical and corporate footprint during the 2020s. In 2020, it sold its former Basel group headquarters to the pension fund of UBS in a sale-and-leaseback transaction, generating gross proceeds of approximately CHF 19 million before fees and transaction costs. The company moved to a new headquarters in Allschwil in mid-2022. Its Chinese subsidiary was sold to PHT International in 2021. At the beginning of 2022, Basilea discontinued oncology research and adopted an exclusively anti-infective research and development focus. The company continued to build its antifungal pipeline in 2023 by acquiring rights to fosmanogepix from Pfizer. At the same time, Cresemba had reached more than 70 countries, and reported global sales for the twelve months ending September 2023 were CHF 406 million. In April 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved expanded ceftobiprole indications covering bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, right-sided infective endocarditis, acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections, and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in specified adult and pediatric groups. Basilea’s current model combines a compact Swiss operating organization with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Germany and a broad network of licensing and distribution partners. Its stated commercial and scientific identity is centered on medicines for severe bacterial infections and life-threatening invasive fungal diseases, particularly areas where resistance or limited treatment options create significant unmet medical need.
- 2024
Expanded U.S. approval for ceftobiprole
[1]The FDA approved additional ceftobiprole indications for bloodstream infections, endocarditis, skin infections and specified pediatric and adult pneumonia patients.
- 2023
Fosmanogepix rights acquired
[1]Basilea acquired rights to the investigational antifungal fosmanogepix from Pfizer.
- 2022
Oncology research discontinued
[1]Basilea withdrew from oncology research and focused its development strategy exclusively on anti-infective medicines.
- 2021
Chinese subsidiary sold
[1]Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd. was sold to PHT International.
- 2020
Basel headquarters sold in sale-and-leaseback
[1]Basilea sold its former headquarters to the UBS pension fund and leased the property back during its transition to a new site.
- 2015
Isavuconazole approved in the United States and European Union
[1]Isavuconazole received U.S. approval in March and European Union approval in October for specified invasive fungal infections.
- 2013
Key anti-infective regulatory progress
[1]Isavuconazole received U.S. orphan-drug status, while ceftobiprole gained marketing authorization in twelve European countries.
- 2012
Toctino rights divested
[1]Worldwide rights to Toctino were sold to Stiefel Laboratories, a GlaxoSmithKline subsidiary, for CHF 216 million.
- 2008
Toctino enters European markets
[1]The dermatology medicine Toctino, developed by Basilea, received approval and was marketed in various European countries.
- 2004
Swiss stock-market listing
[1]Basilea became an independent listed company on the Swiss stock exchange in March, raising more than CHF 200 million in gross proceeds.
Products and positioning
A focused anti-infective biopharmaceutical company addressing serious, resistant bacterial infections and invasive fungal diseases through a combination of internal development, licensing and regional commercialization partnerships.
Antifungal medicine · 2015
Cresemba (isavuconazole)
Cresemba is an antifungal medicine available in intravenous and oral formulations. It is used to treat invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis, serious fungal infections that can be life-threatening, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Isavuconazole was developed with Astellas Pharma and received U.S. orphan-drug status in 2013, followed by U.S. approval in 2015 and European Union approval later that year. Basilea commercializes it through regional partners, including Astellas in the United States, Pfizer in much of Europe and selected Asia-Pacific markets, Hikma in MENA and Knight Therapeutics in South America.
Intravenous antibiotic · 2013
Zevtera/Mabelio (ceftobiprole)
Ceftobiprole is an intravenous broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic used for specified bacterial infections, including community-acquired pneumonia and hospital-acquired pneumonia in adults. It has activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and selected gram-negative organisms such as Enterobacteriaceae. European authorizations began in 2013, and the medicine was subsequently approved in additional markets. In April 2024, the FDA approved expanded U.S. uses covering Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, right-sided infective endocarditis, acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections, and specified community-acquired bacterial pneumonia populations.
Dermatology medicine · 2008
Toctino
Toctino was a dermatology medicine developed by Basilea and approved and marketed in several European countries beginning in 2008. Basilea subsequently divested worldwide rights to Stiefel Laboratories in 2012. The product is therefore a historical Basilea offering rather than a current flagship of the company’s anti-infective-focused portfolio.
Investigational antifungal
Fosmanogepix
Fosmanogepix is an investigational antifungal asset whose rights Basilea acquired from Pfizer in 2023. The transaction expanded Basilea’s development pipeline in invasive fungal disease and aligns with its post-2022 strategy of concentrating research and development on anti-infective medicines. The available reference material does not establish a commercial launch date or final regulatory status.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquisition of fosmanogepix rightsM&ABackground
Basilea sought to strengthen its development portfolio in invasive fungal disease after adopting an anti-infective-only research strategy.
Action taken
The company acquired rights to the investigational antifungal fosmanogepix from Pfizer.
Aftermath
Fosmanogepix became an additional development-stage asset supporting Basilea’s focus on serious fungal infections.
2022
Withdrawal from oncology researchStrategyBackground
Basilea had previously conducted research in oncology as well as infectious diseases, but its later portfolio increasingly centered on anti-infective medicines.
Action taken
The company discontinued oncology research and focused its research and development activities exclusively on anti-infectives.
Aftermath
Basilea’s strategic identity became more concentrated on severe bacterial infections and invasive fungal diseases.
2021
Sale of Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd.M&ABackground
Basilea had operated a Chinese subsidiary since 2002 as part of its international corporate structure.
Action taken
The company sold Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd. to PHT International.
Aftermath
Basilea’s direct corporate presence in China was reduced while the company continued to reach international markets through licensing and distribution partners.
2020
Sale-and-leaseback of former headquartersStrategyBackground
Basilea reorganized its physical footprint before moving from Basel to a new headquarters in Allschwil.
Action taken
The former Basel group headquarters was sold to the pension fund of UBS and leased back during the transition.
Aftermath
The transaction generated approximately CHF 19 million in gross proceeds before fees and transaction costs, and the company moved to Allschwil in mid-2022.
Gross sale proceeds. Approximately CHF 19 million (2020, before fees and transaction costs)
2012
Divestment of Toctino rightsM&ABackground
Basilea had developed Toctino and supported its marketing in several European countries, but the company was also building a broader specialist pharmaceutical portfolio.
Action taken
The company sold worldwide rights to Toctino to Stiefel Laboratories, a GlaxoSmithKline subsidiary, for CHF 216 million.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Basilea’s direct exposure to dermatology and provided proceeds that could support its wider portfolio and anti-infective strategy.
Transaction proceeds. CHF 216 million (2012)
Recent events
Basilea provides 2021 financial guidance[3]
Reported:
Basilea provided financial guidance for full-year 2021, including expected non-deferred revenue contributions from Cresemba and Zevtera of CHF 108–118 million and year-end cash and investments of approximately CHF 110–120 million.
Basilea reports half-year 2020 results[4]
Reported:
Basilea Pharmaceutica announced financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2020, reporting revenue of CHF 69.3 million, operating profit of CHF 12.8 million and net profit of CHF 9.9 million.
Basilea launches convertible bond placement[5]
Reported:
Basilea announced the launch of a placement of CHF 100 million in senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2027, with an increase option of up to CHF 25 million. It said proceeds would finance a planned tender offer for its outstanding 2022 convertible bonds and general corporate purposes.
Sources5 sources
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