Merger With Cempra Takes Melinta Public, Will Help Launch Baxdela

Troubled Cempra Inc. and privately held Melinta Therapeutics Inc. – which is nearing the launch of its first product – are merging in a deal that combines two antibiotic pipelines, brings Melinta an established commercial team and may buy Cempra more time to resolve the regulatory path forward for its community-acquired bacterial pneumonia candidate solithromycin.

Announcing the merger during its second quarter earnings call Aug. 9, Cempra said the combined company, to be called Melinta Therapeutics and listed on NASDAQ, will provide a strong foundation for launching Baxdela (delafloxacin). The novel fluoroquinolone antibiotic was approved by the US FDA June 19 for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). (Also see "Melinta To Launch First Commercial Drug Baxdela Independently" - Scrip, 22 June, 2017.) Chapel Hill, N.C