Meropenem-vaborbactam: a carbapenem and beta-lactamase inhibitor with activity against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Abstract

Meropenem-vaborbactam is a carbapenem and β-lactamase inhibitor combination that is newly indicated for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including adult pyelonephritis. Vaborbactam was developed due to emergence of carbapenem-resistant strains of Enterobacteriaceae. In a phase I trial, patients that received meropenem-vaborbactam 2-2g intravenously over 3h every 8h, Cmax was 58.2 ± 10.8μg/mL for meropenem and 59.0 ± 8.4μg/mL for vaborbactam. AUC0-8 was 186 ± 33.6μg•h/mL for meropenem and 204 ± 34.6μg•h/mL for vaborbactam. Vss = 16.3 ± 2.6L for meropenem and 17.6 ± 2.6L for vaborbactam. Protein binding for vaborbactam averaged 33% in humans. Plasma clearance ranged from 10.42 ± 1.85 to 14.77 ± 2.84L/h. One phase III trial evaluated efficacy for meropenem-vaborbactam 2-2g intravenously every 8h versus piperacillin-tazobactam 4-0.5g intravenously every 8h in complicated UTI. It found non-inferiority and statistical superiority for meropenem in overall success at the end of treatment primary end point. In another phase III trial evaluating efficacy in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections, meropenem-vaborbactam 2-2g intravenously every 8h was associated with decreased 28-day mortality and increased clinical cure compared with a best available therapy group.