FDA panel votes in favor of two anti-infective drugs

By Toni Clarke WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave favorable reviews on Monday to two new medications to treat acute bacterial skin infections. The panel voted unanimously that Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc’s tedizolid and Durata Therapeutics Inc’s dalbavancin showed substantial evidence of safety and efficacy. The FDA is not obliged to follow the advice of its expert panels but typically does so. Cubist’s shares closed up 4.4 percent at $73.15.