Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG (NVS) said Thursday it has gained exclusive worldwide rights to market what could become the first once-a-day broad-spectrum antibiotic that can be given as a tablet or intravenously to treat infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria.

The drug candidate, dubbed PTK 0796, is currently in late-stage trials to treat patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections and Novartis will share the responsibility for developing the drug with U.S.-based privately held Paratek Pharmaceuticals.

"Its broad spectrum of activity means it could be used as a single agent against a range of bacteria, unlike other antibiotics which may have to be used in combination," the company said.

Gaining the rights makes a lot of strategic sense, said pharmaceuticals analyst Michael Nawrath of Zuercher Kantonalbank, who expects the share price to react positively. "The advantage over other such antibiotics already on the market is that it can be given in one dose, while for example Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) Zyvox needs to be given in two doses a day," he said.

Based on an estimated 150,000 deaths a year from hospital-acquired infections across the U.S. and Europe, Nawrath sees peak sales potential of more than $1 billion.

Novartis highlighted that because PTK 0796 can be given as a 30-minute intravenous infusion or as a tablet and patients won't have to remain in hospital to receive the treatment. This would not only save healthcare costs, but also lower the risk of further infections.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics fight bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, which cause complicated, sometimes fatal skin infections and which are resistant to drugs already on the market.

Year-to-date, Novartis shares have lost 2.9%, underperforming a 4.6% rise in the European Health Care sector Stoxx 600. They closed at 51.20 Swiss francs ($49.80) Wednesday.

The in-licensing of PTK 0796 represents a further expansion of the Basel-based company's infectious diseases portfolio following the acquisition of Protez Pharmaceuticals in 2008.

-By Julia Mengewein, Dow Jones Newswires; +41 43 443 80 45; julia.mengewein@dowjones.com