26 January 2012 - US Trius Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:TSRX) said earlier this week it had received a USD5m (EUR3.8m) milestone payment from Bayer Healthcare for the successful completion of the TR701-112 Phase III pivotal study with its lead investigational drug, tedizolid phosphate, for treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).

The milestone payment was triggered with the achievement of all efficacy and safety endpoints in the trial which tested the oral dosage form of tedizolid phosphate against the comparator linezolid (Zyvox) in ABSSSI patients.

The TR701-112 trial is the first of two pivotal Phase III trials intended to support the filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) with the the US drug regulator FDA as well as a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) with the European medicines regulator.

The company started the second Phase III trial of tedizolid phosphate in ABSSSI, entitled TR701-113, for its intravenous (IV) to oral transition therapy in September 2011 and anticipates to report top-line results in early 2013. It is the first clinical trial performed in partnership with Bayer HealthCare and will enrol patients in North and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

(USD1 = EUR0.764)