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Imipenem+Relebactam
Imipenem is a beta-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, while relebactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that protects imipenem from enzymatic degradation by resistant bacteria.
Imipenem is a beta-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, while relebactam is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that protects imipenem from enzymatic degradation by resistant bacteria. Used for Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) caused by susceptible gram-negative bacteria, Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) caused by susceptible pathogens.
At a glance
| Generic name | Imipenem+Relebactam |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Recarbrio |
| Sponsor | Wake Forest University Health Sciences |
| Drug class | Beta-lactam antibiotic with beta-lactamase inhibitor |
| Target | Penicillin-binding proteins (imipenem); serine beta-lactamases (relebactam) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Imipenem works by binding to penicillin-binding proteins and disrupting peptidoglycan cross-linking in the bacterial cell wall, leading to cell lysis and death. Relebactam inhibits serine beta-lactamases (including class A and C enzymes) that would otherwise inactivate imipenem, thereby restoring imipenem's activity against beta-lactamase-producing resistant organisms. This combination extends imipenem's spectrum to include carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and other resistant gram-negative pathogens.
Approved indications
- Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) caused by susceptible gram-negative bacteria
- Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) caused by susceptible pathogens
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Phlebitis at infusion site
- Seizures (rare, especially with renal impairment)
Key clinical trials
- Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of Imipenem/Cilastatin/Relebactam (MK-7655A) in Pediatric Participants With Gram-negative Bacterial Infection (MK-7655A-021) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Imipenem/Cilastatin-XNW4107 Versus Imipenem/Cilastatin/Relebactam for Treatment of Participants With Bacterial Pneumonia (XNW4107-302, REITAB-2) (PHASE3)
- Imipenem/Cilastatin/Relebactam (MK-7655A) Versus Piperacillin/Tazobactam in Participants With Hospital-Acquired or Ventilator-Associated Bacterial Pneumonia (MK-7655A-016) (PHASE3)
- Imipenem/Cilastatin/Relebactam Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Outcomes in Adults and Adolescents With Cystic Fibrosis (PHASE4)
- Impact of Obesity on the Pharmacokinetics of Imipenem-Relebactam in ICU Patients (PHASE4)
- PHASE II SINGLE-CENTER, RANDOMIZED, OPEN-LABEL, PROSPECTIVE, STUDY TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF SERIAL PROCALCITONIN (PHASE2)
- Imipenem/Cilastatin/Relebactam (IMI/REL) in Treatment of CRE Infections (PHASE4)
- Imipenem/Cilastatin/Relebactam PK in ECMO (PHASE1)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Imipenem+Relebactam CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Imipenem+Relebactam updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences portfolio CI