Novasep to supply ingredient for Tetraphase's candidate superbug buster eravacycline

Tetraphase Pharmaceutical Inc. has hired Novasep to make commercial supplies of the active ingredient for its candidate antibiotic eravacycline.

The deal will see Novasep produce eravacycline at its manufacturing facility in Chasse sur Rhône, France.

The contract manufacturer has been making the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for clinical trials for Tetraphase since 2014.

In July, Tetraphase hired contractor Patheon NV to formulate and package eravacycline.

According to a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), filing production will take place at Patheon’s facility in the UK.

At the time, Tetraphase said it expected to sign two further agreements with Patheon covering production at sites in Greenville North Carolina and Ferentino, Italy.

A representative for Tetraphase told us Novasep will work alongside Patheon, explaining, “Novasep supplies the API, and Patheon supplies the drug product.”

Phase III candidate

Tetraphase designed eravacycline to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assigned the drug Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track status.

Tetraphase is testing the drug in patients with complicated urinary tract Infections in a Phase III trial at sites in the US and Europe.

Tetraphase developed eravacycline developed using synthesis methods settled by researchers at Harvard University in 2005.