Theravance drug may be related to deaths-FDA staff

NEW YORK, Nov 17 (Reuters) - An experimental antibiotic from Theravance Inc (THRX.O) may be related to the deaths of some patients who were treated for complicated skin infections in company studies, U.S. drug reviewers said in an analysis released on Monday.

Food and Drug Administration reviewers noted nine deaths among patients treated with telavancin, as well as nine deaths among others who were given the older antibiotic vancomycin. FDA reviewers determined some of the deaths were "possibly" related to telavancin, the analysis said.

Theravance, in a statement, said "the safety profile of telavancin in these studies was compatible with treatment of patients with serious infections." (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)