FDA Approves Imipenem-Cilastatin/Relebactam (Recarbrio) for Complicated Intra-Abdominal or Urinary Tract Infections

On July 17, 2019, the U.S. FDA announced approval of a combination antibiotic, imipenem-cilastatin/relebactam (IMI-REL; brand name, Recarbrio), to treat adults with complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) or complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI). The drug builds on imipenem-cilastatin (Primaxin, a carbapenem that has been in use for more than 30 years) by the addition of relebactam, a novel beta-lactamase inhibitor in the diazabicyclooctane class.

The development of novel beta-lactamase inhibitors is key in recent antibiotic drug development strategies to combat the threat of gram-negative bacterial pathogens harboring an increasing repertoire of enzymes, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase, that can hydrolyze last-line ant…