Bharat Biotech International has received a world-wide patent for its version of Lysostaphin, the recombinant DNA therapeutic protein used for treating infections by the virulent bacterium staph. The world-wide patent for this drug was owned by AMBI of the US and was sold to Bionexus which is developing a variation of the drug which is now in its pre-clinical phase.

AMBI still holds the US patent on its version of the molecule and Bharat Biotech has developed the protein indigenously. Staph (or staphylococus aureaus) has the potency to cause fatal infections of vital organs like heart valve and kidney and has become resistant to the latest class of antibiotics such as Vancomycin. The estimated global market size of Lysostaphin is estimated to be around $ 12 billion. Bharat Biotech has received pre-human trial test licence for GMP-grade material from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The drug is expected to hit the market in two years from now.