Meropenem/vaborbactam fixed combination for the treatment of patients with complicated urinary tract infections

On August 29, 2017, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved meropenem/ vaborbactam fixed combination for the treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). The decision was based on substantial preclinical and clinical data, including two recent trials involving hundreds of adults with cUTI. Meropenem/ vaborbactam represents a powerful new treatment option to address antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing bacteria. In this paper, we examine the work that led to FDA approval, with special emphasis on molecular pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, efficacy and drug safety. We also look ahead, to explore how this promising new antimicrobial agent might be used in the near future to confront other drug-resistant infections..