Basilea and Phare Bio enter partnership combining anti-infectives industry expertise with unique AI capabilities for the development of a novel antibiotic

Allschwil, Switzerland, December 11, 2025

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, announced today a partnership with Phare Bio Inc., Boston (USA), a biotech social venture that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate antibiotic discovery and development.

Under the partnership, Phare Bio will deploy its Generative AI platform to design molecules with antibacterial properties that meet a pre-defined target product profile, which considers both unmet medical needs and the features relevant for potential commercial success of a future product. Following identification of molecules matching this profile, Basilea will assume responsibility for subsequent development and Phare Bio will be eligible to receive pre-defined success-based payments. This partnership represents a new model for antibiotic innovation, bridging technological advances in drug discovery with industrial expertise and economic sustainability.

Dr. Laurenz Kellenberger, Chief Scientific Officer of Basilea, commented: "We are excited to work with Phare Bio and their innovative platform on the discovery of a new antibiotic. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to address the urgent need for novel antibiotics by advancing drug candidates with innovative features such as a novel mode of action. By combining Phare Bio’s innovative AI-driven discovery platform with our proven drug development expertise, this provides a unique opportunity to deliver a new antibiotic with clinical relevance, commercial potential and a positive public health impact.”

“This partnership is a watershed moment for the field of antimicrobial resistance,” said Dr. Akhila Kosaraju, president and CEO of Phare Bio. “For the first time, we are aligning our cutting-edge AI drug discovery platform with a partner committed to developing innovative drugs to address the need for novel antibiotics. It validates Phare Bio’s hybrid model of nonprofit innovation and private-sector partnerships as a viable route to solving one of the greatest public health crises of our time.”

About Phare Bio

Phare Bio is a biotech social venture harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop novel classes of antibiotics. Founded in 2020 to confront the global crisis of antibiotic resistance, Phare Bio combines cutting-edge machine learning with world-class science to accelerate the discovery of urgently needed antibiotics. Backed by The Audacious Project, Google.org, ARPA-H, and others, Phare Bio is redefining what collaborative, AI-driven drug discovery can achieve. To learn more, visit www.pharebio.org or email info@pharebio.org.

About Basilea

Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have preclinical and clinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, Allschwil is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schröder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland
Phone	+41 61 606 1102
E-mail	media_relations@basilea.com investor_relations@basilea.com

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. 

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