BioSearch Italia

BioSearch Italia was a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and manufacturing of novel antibiotic compounds derived from natural products. Spun off from the Lepetit Research Center in 1996, the company leveraged an extensive proprietary library of actinomycetes to identify new chemical entities for treating infectious diseases. Its lead candidate, dalbavancin, was a next-generation glycopeptide antibiotic designed to treat serious Gram-positive infections. In 2003, BioSearch Italia merged with the American company Versicor to form Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, which was subsequently acquired by Pfizer in 2005. The company's legacy lies in its contribution to the field of anti-infectives and its specialized fermentation-based manufacturing capabilities.