Speculation late last week suggested AstraZeneca could be eyeing an acquisition of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, according to a report in The Telegraph.

Lexington, Mass.-based Cubist sells an antibiotic called Cubicin, used to treat complex skin infections and the “superbug” MRSA. It is thought that U.S. sales of Cubicin could eventually top $1billion, and Cubist’s success in the tough antibiotics market has already marked it out as a possible acquisition target.

Last month, Cubist settled a patent dispute with Israeli drug maker Teva over Cubicin, which lessened the threat of generic competition. That prompted a number of analysts to suggest that Cubist could attract a suitor as other pharmaceutical companies, who are themselves facing oncoming generic competition, look to add new antibiotics to their portfolios.