Arpida

Arpida (SIX: ARPN) was a biopharmaceutical firm located in Reinach, Switzerland, that concentrated on developing new medications to combat antimicrobial resistance. Established in 1997, the company dedicated its resources to addressing severe, hospital-based infections through its pipeline of antibiotic candidates.

The company's business model was centered on the discovery, development, and subsequent commercialization of novel anti-infective drugs. Arpida's primary market was the hospital sector, which faces a continuous challenge from drug-resistant bacteria. Its financial strategy included raising capital through venture funding, an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the SIX Swiss Exchange in May 2005, and follow-on financings.

Arpida’s most advanced product candidate was iclaprim, an intravenous antibiotic designed to treat severe infections, notably those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted fast-track status to intravenous iclaprim. The company also worked on an oral version of iclaprim, which would have allowed for an intravenous-to-oral switch therapy, potentially reducing hospital costs and improving patient comfort. Despite completing Phase III trials for iclaprim and submitting a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA, the company faced significant setbacks. In 2009, the FDA issued a complete response letter, indicating that additional clinical data was needed to demonstrate efficacy, a hurdle that proved to be financially insurmountable for Arpida.

Following the regulatory challenges and subsequent financial strain, Arpida underwent a significant restructuring, which included reducing its workforce and board size. In December 2009, Arpida merged with Evolva SA, another Swiss biotech company. The combined entity was renamed Evolva Holding SA, and Arpida became a wholly-owned subsidiary. The merger was seen as a strategic move to leverage Arpida's remaining assets, including its cash reserves and stock exchange listing, while Evolva brought a new pipeline of drug candidates. The original Arpida entity, as it was, ceased independent operations following this reverse merger.

Keywords: Arpida, biopharmaceutical, antimicrobial resistance, iclaprim, MRSA, antibiotic development, hospital infections, SIX Swiss Exchange, ARPN, Evolva merger, drug discovery, anti-infective, clinical trials, FDA submission, intravenous antibiotic, Reinach Switzerland, bacterial infections, NDA, Phase III trial, drug-resistant bacteria