Novexel's NXL104/ceftazidime enters second Ph II trial

Novexel, a French speciality pharmaceutical company focused on  antibiotics, says that its drug candidate NXL104 will be tested in a  second Phase II trial as part of a regimen containing ceftazidime. This  study will assess its broad-spectrum beta lactamase inhibitor  with the well-established cephalosporin antibiotic in hospitalized  patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections.

In 2007, Novexel estimates that more than 300,000 patients were treated  for cIAIs in hospital in the seven major pharmaceutical markets,  based on national databases providing hospital patient discharge data.

NXL104/ceftazidime is being developed to treat hospital infections that  are caused by Gram negative bacteria, including those resistant to many  currently-used antibiotics. This Phase II trial is a prospective,  multicenter, double-blind, randomized study which is designed to  evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of NXL104/ceftazidime  plus metronidazole versus AstraZeneca's Merrem (meropenem) in the  treatment of adults with cIAIs.