Oral meropenem for superbugs: challenges and opportunities

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Aun Raza1, Shih Chen Ngieng2, Fekade Bruck Sime1

  • 1School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; Centre for Translational Anti-infective Pharmacodynamics, School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.

Drug Discovery Today
|November 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Developing oral meropenem (MER) is crucial to combat rising multidrug-resistant infections. Strategies like nanomedicine and prodrugs aim to enhance MER

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant microbial strains pose a significant global health threat, projected to cause over 10 million deaths annually by 2055.
  • Carbapenems, including meropenem (MER), are critical last-resort antibiotics but are only available as injectables due to poor oral bioavailability.
  • Instability in the gut and limited permeability across the gut wall hinder oral MER formulations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review strategies for enhancing the oral bioavailability of meropenem (MER).
  • To discuss challenges and emerging approaches for developing oral MER formulations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on meropenem oral delivery.
  • Analysis of strategies including inhibition of tubular secretion, prodrug development, and nanomedicine applications.

Main Results:

  • Various strategies show promise for improving oral MER bioavailability.
  • Nanomedicine and prodrug approaches are key areas of development.
  • Overcoming MER's poor oral absorption remains a significant challenge.

Conclusions:

  • Enhancing oral MER bioavailability is essential for combating antimicrobial resistance.
  • Further research into novel drug delivery systems is needed for effective oral carbapenem therapy.
  • Successful development of oral MER could revolutionize treatment for resistant infections.

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