BASEL, Switzerland, Dec. 15, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently announced that it granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 with respect to a notification and report filed by Johnson & Johnson and Basilea Pharmaceutica AG.
Basilea and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company are currently in negotiations related to a potential license agreement on Basilea's Phase III, broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic, ceftobiprole (BAL5788), that has activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Basilea has been in discussions with a number of potential partners related to ceftobiprole. No transaction has been completed with Johnson & Johnson to date. Basilea will announce to the public the consummation of a transaction, in the event such a transaction occurs.
About Basilea
Basilea Pharmaceutica AG (BSLN) is an independent biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland that is actively engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines for the treatment of unmet medical needs.
The company's fully integrated research and development operations are currently focused on new anti-bacterials and anti-fungals to fight drug resistance, and dermatology drugs. Basilea was founded in October 2000 with significant resources to discover, develop and bring innovative medicines to market. Basilea is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange.
Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact the following:
The press release can be downloaded from the following link: http://hugin.info/134390/R/972288/142616.pdf