Cerexa

Cerexa was a biopharmaceutical company based in Alameda, California, specializing in the development of anti-infective therapies for serious hospital-based infections. The company was established in 2005 as a spin-off from Peninsula Pharmaceuticals to continue the development of ceftaroline fosamil, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. Ceftaroline, which later gained FDA approval as Teflaro, was notable for its efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In early 2007, Cerexa was acquired by Forest Laboratories for $480 million plus milestone payments. This acquisition provided Forest Laboratories with a late-stage candidate that addressed a significant unmet need in the treatment of resistant bacterial infections. Following the acquisition, the development of ceftaroline continued under Forest Laboratories, eventually leading to its commercialization in multiple global markets.