Basilea Pharmaceutica

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.

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.

1. 2024Expanded U.S. approval for ceftobiprole

   The FDA approved additional ceftobiprole indications for bloodstream infections, endocarditis, skin infections and specified pediatric and adult pneumonia patients.

   Source
2. 2023Fosmanogepix rights acquired

   Basilea acquired rights to the investigational antifungal fosmanogepix from Pfizer.

   Source
3. 2022Oncology research discontinued

   Basilea withdrew from oncology research and focused its development strategy exclusively on anti-infective medicines.

   Source
4. 2021Chinese subsidiary sold

   Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd. was sold to PHT International.

   Source
5. 2020Basel headquarters sold in sale-and-leaseback

   Basilea sold its former headquarters to the UBS pension fund and leased the property back during its transition to a new site.

   Source
6. 2015Isavuconazole approved in the United States and European Union

   Isavuconazole received U.S. approval in March and European Union approval in October for specified invasive fungal infections.

   Source
7. 2013Key anti-infective regulatory progress

   Isavuconazole received U.S. orphan-drug status, while ceftobiprole gained marketing authorization in twelve European countries.

   Source
8. 2012Toctino rights divested

   Worldwide rights to Toctino were sold to Stiefel Laboratories, a GlaxoSmithKline subsidiary, for CHF 216 million.

   Source
9. 2008Toctino enters European markets

   The dermatology medicine Toctino, developed by Basilea, received approval and was marketed in various European countries.

   Source
10. 2004Swiss stock-market listing

    Basilea became an independent listed company on the Swiss stock exchange in March, raising more than CHF 200 million in gross proceeds.

    Source
11. 2002Chinese subsidiary established

    Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd. was established in Jiangsu Province, China.

    Source
12. 2000Spin-off from Roche

    Basilea Pharmaceutica was founded as a biopharmaceutical spin-off from F. Hoffmann-La Roche.

    Source

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.

• Cresemba (isavuconazole)Antifungal medicine2015

  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.

• Zevtera/Mabelio (ceftobiprole)Intravenous antibiotic2013

  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.

• ToctinoDermatology medicine2008

  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.

• FosmanogepixInvestigational antifungal

  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.

• 2023Acquisition of fosmanogepix rightsM&A

  Basilea sought to strengthen its development portfolio in invasive fungal disease after adopting an anti-infective-only research strategy.

  What changed. 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.

  Source
• 2022Withdrawal from oncology researchStrategy

  Basilea had previously conducted research in oncology as well as infectious diseases, but its later portfolio increasingly centered on anti-infective medicines.

  What changed. 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.

  Source
• 2021Sale of Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd.M&A

  Basilea had operated a Chinese subsidiary since 2002 as part of its international corporate structure.

  What changed. 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.

  Source
• 2020Sale-and-leaseback of former headquartersStrategy

  Basilea reorganized its physical footprint before moving from Basel to a new headquarters in Allschwil.

  What changed. 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)

  Source
• 2012Divestment of Toctino rightsM&A

  Basilea had developed Toctino and supported its marketing in several European countries, but the company was also building a broader specialist pharmaceutical portfolio.

  What changed. 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)

  Source

• 2024Basilea receives U.S. approval for expanded ceftobiprole indications

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ceftobiprole for adult Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections and right-sided infective endocarditis, and for acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections in adults and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in specified adult and pediatric patients.

  Product launchRegulation
  Source
• 2023Basilea acquires rights to fosmanogepix from Pfizer

  Basilea acquired rights to the investigational antifungal fosmanogepix, strengthening its development portfolio in invasive fungal disease.

  M&AProduct generation
  Source
• 2023Ceftobiprole reaches broader international commercialization

  By the end of 2023, ceftobiprole had been approved in 32 countries and marketed in 21, expanding Basilea’s antibiotic presence through partner-led commercialization.

  Product generation
  Source
• 2023Cresemba sales continue international growth

  Isavuconazole was commercialized in more than 70 countries by the end of 2023. Reported global sales for the twelve months ending September 2023 were CHF 406 million, up 22 percent year over year.

  Product generation
  Source
• 2022Basilea focuses exclusively on anti-infectives after leaving oncology research

  The company withdrew from oncology research and concentrated its research and development strategy on anti-infective medicines.

  Other
  Source
• 2022Basilea relocates headquarters to Allschwil

  Following a sale-and-leaseback of its former Basel headquarters, Basilea moved into its new headquarters in Allschwil in mid-2022.

  Other
  Source
• 2021Basilea sells Chinese subsidiary

  Basilea Pharmaceutica China Ltd. was sold to U.S.-based PHT International, ending the company’s direct ownership of that Chinese subsidiary.

  M&A
  Source
• 2015Isavuconazole gains U.S. and European approvals

  Isavuconazole was approved in the United States in March 2015 and across the European Union in October 2015 for specified invasive fungal infections.

  Product launchRegulation
  Source
• 2013Ceftobiprole receives European marketing authorizations

  Basilea received marketing authorization for ceftobiprole in twelve European countries, including Germany, with further approvals following in European and non-European markets.

  Product launchRegulation
  Source
• 2013Isavuconazole receives U.S. orphan-drug status

  The antifungal isavuconazole received orphan-drug designation in the United States for invasive fungal infections after development with Astellas Pharma.

  RegulationProduct generation
  Source

1. Basilea Pharmaceutica
2. Basilea Pharmaceutica official website