Astellas Pharma Europe achieved the first sales of DIFICLIR (fidaxomicin) tablets, triggering a $12.6 million milestone payment to Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Under the 2011 collaboration and license agreement, Optimer granted Astellas development and commercialization rights in Europe and certain other countries in the Middle East, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The drug was granted Marketing Authorization by the European Commission for the treatment of adults with Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in December 2011.
 
“We are truly excited about the potential of DIFICLIR to achieve better clinical outcomes for patients with CDI, as Astellas sequentially launches this important new medicine across Europe,” said Pedro Lichtinger, president and chief executive officer of Optimer. “We believe DIFICLIR will achieve rapid adoption in markets across Europe because of the high unmet medical need. Additionally, Astellas’ strategic focus on anti-infectives combined with their significant commercial and medical programs in this therapy area will be truly impactful.”