Basilea’s Cresemba Achieves Key Sales Milestone in Japan and Strong Global Growth

Basilea’s Cresemba Achieves Key Sales Milestone in Japan and Strong Global Growth

(IN BRIEF) Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd announced that its antifungal drug, Cresemba® (isavuconazole), surpassed sales targets in Japan, triggering a CHF 1.2 million sales milestone payment from its partner Asahi Kasei Pharma. This achievement, reached in just the second year of commercialization, highlights the drug’s success in addressing the critical medical needs of patients with life-threatening fungal infections. Cresemba has been marketed in over 70 countries, with global sales reaching USD 533 million in the year from October 2023 to September 2024, a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year, solidifying its position as the largest branded antifungal treatment for invasive fungal infections worldwide.

(PRESS RELEASE) ALLSCHWIL, 5-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, based in Allschwil (SIX: BSLN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, has announced that its antifungal drug, Cresemba® (isavuconazole), has surpassed sales targets in Japan, triggering the first sales milestone payment from its partner, Asahi Kasei Pharma (AKP). This milestone payment, amounting to approximately CHF 1.2 million, marks a significant achievement in the commercialization of Cresemba in Japan.

David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer of Basilea, commented on the milestone: “Japan is a critical market for Cresemba, offering considerable growth opportunities. Reaching this first sales milestone in just the second year of commercialization demonstrates AKP’s strong commercial performance in Japan. The rapid sales growth of Cresemba early in its lifecycle is clear evidence that the drug is fulfilling an essential medical need for patients with life-threatening fungal infections.”

By the close of 2024, Cresemba will be marketed in over 70 countries. The latest market data reveals that global sales of Cresemba between October 2023 and September 2024 totaled USD 533 million, reflecting a 20 percent increase year-on-year. This performance solidifies Cresemba’s position as the largest branded antifungal treatment for invasive fungal infections globally.

About Cresemba® (isavuconazole)

Isavuconazole is an intravenous (i.v.) and oral azole antifungal, commercialized under the trade name Cresemba. In Japan, the oral and intravenous formulations are approved for the treatment of adult patients with aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and cryptococcosis.2 Isavuconazole is also approved in the United States (US),3 China, the EU4 and several additional countries in Europe and beyond.5

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, September 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: February 04, 2025]
3. Full US prescribing information: www.astellas.us/docs/cresemba.pdf [Accessed: February 04, 2025]
4. European Public Assessment Report (EPAR): www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/cresemba [Accessed: February 04, 2025]
5. The registration status and approved indications may vary from country to country.

Media Contact:

SOURCE: Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd