Paratek Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies based upon tetracycline chemistry, has entered into a collaboration with Zai Lab (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company based in China, to support the development and commercialization of omadacycline for patients in China.

Paratek has granted to Zai Lab an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize omadacycline for the greater China territory, specifically the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan markets. The companies will establish a joint steering committee to review and oversee all development, manufacturing, and commercialization plans. Paratek will receive a $7.5 million upfront payment in connection with the signing of the agreement and is eligible for additional milestone payments related to development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. In addition, Paratek will be eligible to receive royalty payments on sales of omadacycline in the territory.

“Our successful Phase 3 efficacy studies in both skin infections and pneumonia demonstrate the potential of omadacycline to be a promising new therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with serious bacterial infections,” said Michael Bigham, chairman and chief executive officer, Paratek. “This agreement with Zai Lab further validates that potential, and represents an exciting step toward making omadacycline available to the many patients in the greater China territory where there is a proven need for a new, effective, well-tolerated, IV and once-daily oral, broad-spectrum antibiotic, particularly when resistance is of concern.”

Samantha Du, chairman and chief executive officer, Zai Lab, said, “We are very pleased to partner with Paratek to potentially bring omadacycline to Chinese patients. It is estimated that per capita use of antibiotics in China is significantly higher than that in the U.S. Consequently, antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasing and severe problem for China. Based on the data generated by Paratek to date, we believe omadacycline has the potential to be a valuable new tool for physicians in China as they try to combat the growing antibiotic resistance problem.”

Omadacycline is a new, once-daily oral and intravenous broad spectrum antibiotic being developed for use as empiric monotherapy for patients suffering from serious community-acquired bacterial infections, such as acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and other community-acquired bacterial infections, particularly when antibiotic resistance is of concern to prescribing physicians. Omadacycline has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation and Fast Track status by the FDA for the target indications.