Basilea Achieves Second Consecutive Sales Milestone for Cresemba in Japan Through Asahi Kasei Pharma Partnership

Basilea Achieves Second Consecutive Sales Milestone for Cresemba in Japan Through Asahi Kasei Pharma Partnership

(IN BRIEF) Basilea Pharmaceutica has received a CHF 1.7 million milestone payment from its partner Asahi Kasei Pharma following continued strong sales of Cresemba® in Japan—marking the second consecutive quarterly milestone. Cresemba, now marketed in over 70 countries, achieved USD 562 million in global sales for 2024, up 19% year-on-year, affirming its status as the top branded antifungal for invasive infections worldwide. Basilea sees Japan as a key growth market, and Cresemba’s performance underscores its importance in addressing critical medical needs.

(PRESS RELEASE) ALLSCHWIL, 24-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd (SIX: BSLN), a biopharmaceutical company based in Allschwil and focused on combating severe bacterial and fungal infections, announced that its Japanese partner, Asahi Kasei Pharma (AKP), has once again exceeded sales expectations for the antifungal Cresemba® (isavuconazole), triggering a milestone payment of approximately CHF 1.7 million. This marks the second milestone payment from AKP to Basilea within just two quarters.

David Veitch, Basilea’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed satisfaction with the achievement, stating: “We’re delighted with the robust commercial performance of Cresemba in Japan. This country remains one of our key strategic markets with long-term growth potential. The sustained uptake indicates that Cresemba is playing a vital role in treating patients suffering from life-threatening fungal infections.”

Cresemba is now available in over 70 countries worldwide. According to the most recent market data, global in-market sales for Cresemba totaled USD 562 million for the 12-month period ending December 2024—reflecting a strong 19% year-over-year growth. These results cement Cresemba’s position as the leading branded antifungal for invasive fungal infections globally.

About Cresemba® (isavuconazole)

Cresemba, with the active ingredient isavuconazole, is an intravenous (i.v.) and oral azole antifungal. Basilea has entered into several license and distribution agreements for Cresemba covering approximately 115 countries. In Japan, the oral and intravenous formulations are approved for the treatment of adult patients with aspergillosis (invasive aspergillosis, chronic progressive pulmonary aspergillosis, and simple pulmonary aspergilloma), mucormycosis, and cryptococcosis.2 Isavuconazole is also approved in the European Union3, the United Kingdom4, the United States5, China and several additional countries including in the Asia Pacific region.6

About Basilea

Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical and clinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as “believe”, “assume”, “expect”, “forecast”, “project”, “may”, “could”, “might”, “will” or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. 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 Ltd, Allschwil to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil 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.

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com.

References

1. IQVIA Analytics Link, December 2024. In-market sales reported as moving annual total (MAT) in US dollar.
2. PMDA List of Approved Drugs April 2022 to March 2023: www.pmda.go.jp/files/000267877.pdf [Accessed: April 23, 2025]
3. European Public Assessment Report (EPAR): www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/cresemba [Accessed: April 23, 2025]
4. Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Cresemba: www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search: April 23, 2025]
5. Full US prescribing information: www.astellas.us/docs/cresemba.pdf [Accessed: April 23, 2025]
6. The registration status and approved indications may vary from country to country.

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SOURCE: Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd