Basilea presents research data on a novel antibiotic at the Anti-Infectives Partnering & Deal-Making Summit

Basel, Switzerland, March 6, 2009 - Basilea's novel antibiotic
BAL30072 demonstrates unrivalled activity against some of the most
difficult to treat multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in in-vitro
and in-vivo models of infection and addresses the emerging threat
from multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria

Basilea's Head of Biology, Prof. Malcolm Page, presents data on its
novel antibiotic BAL30072 today at the 6th Anti-Infectives Partnering
& Deal-Making Summit in Boston. BAL30072 has unrivalled activity
against some of the most difficult-to-treat multi-resistant
Gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, both
in susceptibility tests and in animal models of infection. BAL30072
has the potential to fill the treatment gaps of currently available
antibiotics, such as the carbapenems.

BAL30072 is a novel siderophore monobactam that exploits the natural
nutrient uptake like a trojan horse. Its unique pattern of
penicillin-binding-protein inhibition and its bactericidal mode of
action confer potent in-vitro and in-vivo activity against
Gram-negative non-fermentors. These properties enable BAL30072 to
overcome most of the genetically defined factors of beta-lactam
resistance. In addition to the potent inhibition of Pseudomonas and
Acinetobacter, BAL30072 also exhibits strong activity against
Burkholderia spp. and Stenotrophomonas, two of the more difficult to
treat Gram-negative pathogens.

Resistance rates are increasing among several problematic
Gram-negative pathogens that are often responsible for serious
hospital infections, including Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. They are associated with complicated urinary tract
infections, nosocomial pneumonia (especially in ventilator-associated
pneumonia and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease), complicated intra-abdominal infections and exacerbations of
cystic fibrosis.

Infections caused by multi-resistant bacilli have been associated
with prolonged hospital stays, higher healthcare costs and increased
mortality, particularly when initial antibiotic therapy does not
provide coverage of the causative pathogen. BAL30072 has the
potential to become a unique, novel treatment option for these severe
infections.

About Basilea
Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland,
and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX:BSLN). Basilea's integrated
research and development operations are currently focused on new
antibacterial, antifungal and oncology agents to fight drug
resistance and on the development of dermatology drugs. Basilea's
products are targeted to satisfy high medical and patient needs in
the hospital and specialty care setting. The company owns a
diversified portfolio including two commercialized drugs
(alitretinoin, ceftobiprole) and one investigational drug in phase
III (isavuconazole). Toctino® (alitretinoin) is marketed in the
United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany and is approved in Finland and
France. Alitretinoin has been recommended for approval in six
additional EU Member States and is under regulatory review in Canada
and Switzerland. Furthermore a phase III clinical trial on
alitretinoin for the treatment of severe chronic hand eczema is
ongoing in the U.S. Marketing applications for ceftobiprole
(ZEFTERA(TM)/Zevtera(TM)) were submitted in the U.S., the EU and
several other countries. The company has set up commercial
organizations in UK, Denmark, Germany and Canada, while it is
building sales and marketing organizations in other countries to
commercialize alitretinoin and to co-promote ceftobiprole, subject to
approval.

Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain
forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and
its business. 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. to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. 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:

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| Media Relations | Investor Relations |
|----------------------------------+--------------------------------|
| Jean-Christophe Britt, Ph.D. | Barbara Zink, Ph.D., MBA |
| Corporate Communication & Public | Head Corporate Development |
| Relations | +41 61 606 1233 |
| +41 61 606 1354 | investor_relations@basilea.com |
| media_relations@basilea.com | |
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