Trius Therapeutics (Nasdaq: TSRX) was a biopharma company based in San Diego, CA that focused on the development of antibiotics.^[1]

The lead compound from Trius, tedizolid phosphate (formerly torezolid phosphate, TR-701), successfully completed its first Phase 3 clinical trial (ESTABLISH 1) in acute skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).^[2] It is a once daily, IV and oral, oxazolidinone being developed for the treatment of serious gram-positive infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).^[3] The Phase 3 trials are being conducted under a Special Protocol Agreement with the US Food and Drug Administration and are using the draft FDA guidance of cessations of lesion spread at 48–72 hours as the primary endpoint.^[4] In the ESTABLISH 1 Study, 200 mg of Tedizolid given for a short course of therapy (six days) was shown to be safe, well tolerated and was as effective as the traditional length of therapy with linezolid (600 mg for ten days).^[5] Additionally, Tedizolid was shown to have fewer treatment-related side effects than linezolid and significantly fewer GI side effects.^[6]

Trius was planning the second Phase 2 trial and expects to report results around the end of Q1 2013 and planned to submit an NDA to the FDA for the drug in the second half of 2013.^[7]

Tedizolid was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on June 20, 2014.

The firm was acquired by Cubist Pharmaceuticals at the end of July 2013 in a deal worth $1.6 billion. This fee also included the purchase of Optimer Pharmaceuticals.^[8]

In February 2007 Trius was formed (formerly Rx3) in conjunction with a Series A financing.^[9] Trius completed an initial public offering in August 2010, raising $50 million.^[10] Its stock was added to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index in 2012.^[11]

In 2008 the company received a $28 million contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases a component of the National Institutes of Health, to develop antibiotics against gram-negative infections. The work included a collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to help identify antibiotics against gram-negative infections and bioterrorism.^[12] Trius was awarded a contract by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2011 for $3 million.^[13] In 2011 Bayer acquired the exclusive rights to Trius' antibiotic tedizolid in certain areas in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.^[14] The deal was reported as being worth $94 million.^[15]

Trius was founded by the last Chief Financial Officer John Schmid and Chief Scientific Officer John Finn.^[16] Other executives included Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Stein, Chief Medical Officer Philippe Prokocimer, Chief Commercial Officer Craig Thompson,^[17] and Chief Development Officer Ken Bartizal.^[18] The Chairman of the Board is David Kabakoff.^[19] The company today has 83 full-time employees.^[20]

• Trius Therapeutics