A new antibiotic trial is underway at Roche, aiming to tackle a common superbug resistant to other treatments. If successful, it would be the first new class of antibiotic capable of killing Gram-negative bacteria in over 50 years. Gram-negative bacteria have a second outer membrane, making them difficult to treat.
Roche plans to launch a Phase 3 trial for zosurabalpin at the end of the year or early next year. The trial will recruit about 400 patients across more than 100 sites worldwide, with the goal of getting the drug approved by the end of the decade.
In related news, Colorado’s prescription drug affordability board is considering using Medicare’s negotiated price for autoimmune treatment Enbrel as a benchmark for setting a limit on what health plans pay. Board members plan to set an upper payment limit at or above $30,000 per patient for 2026, according to Bloomberg Law. However, the pharmaceutical industry has cautioned against this approach, following a U.S. court ruling that supports states’ attempts to control prescription drug spending.
Source: https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2025/05/27/roche-antibiotic-rocket-gene-therapy-pbm-sanofi-trump-pharma-medicines-prices-colorado-amgen-enbrel