Recarbrio: A New Antibiotic for Resistant Infections
Recarbrio is a brand name for a combination of three active substances: imipenem, cilastatin and relebactam. It is an antibiotic that can treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to other antibiotics. Recarbrio is administered by intravenous injection and is indicated for adults with limited or no alternative treatment options.
How does Recarbrio work?
One of the active substances in Recarbrio, imipenem, kills bacteria by interfering with their cell wall synthesis. The other two substances, cilastatin and relebactam, increase imipenem’s effectiveness in different ways. Cilastatin prevents the breakdown of imipenem by the kidneys, allowing it to reach higher concentrations in the blood and urine. Relebactam inhibits some of the enzymes (beta-lactamases) that bacteria produce to resist imipenem and other antibiotics.
What infections can Recarbrio treat?
Recarbrio is approved for the treatment of the following infections in adults with limited or no alternative treatment options:
- Complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), including pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
- Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs), such as peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdomen) or abscesses
- Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP), which are lung infections that occur in hospitalized patients or patients on mechanical ventilation
Recarbrio can treat infections caused by susceptible gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. These bacteria are often resistant to other antibiotics and can cause serious and life-threatening infections.
What are the side effects of Recarbrio?
The most common side effects of Recarbrio include nausea, diarrhea, headache, fever and increased liver enzymes. The most serious side effects include allergic reactions, seizures, clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (a type of bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhea and colitis) and kidney problems.
Recarbrio should not be used in people who are allergic to any of its components or to other antibiotics in the same class (carbapenems). It should also be used with caution in people who have a history of seizures, kidney problems or colitis.
How much does Recarbrio cost and where is it available?
The price and availability of Recarbrio may vary depending on the country and the healthcare system. The following table shows some examples of the price of Recarbrio in different countries, based on online sources as of September 2023. The prices are expressed in US dollars per vial of 1.25 g (500 mg imipenem/500 mg cilastatin/250 mg relebactam).
| Country | Price per vial | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USA | $175 | Drugs.com |
| Canada | $150 | Canada Drugs Direct |
| Australia | $120 | Pharmacy Online |
| UK | $100 | Medicines.org.uk |
| India | $80 | Medindia |
| UAE | $90 | My Medical Shop |
Note: The prices are for informational purposes only and do not reflect the actual cost of the medication in different settings. The prices may change over time and may not include other fees or taxes. The sources are not affiliated with or endorsed by the manufacturer of Recarbrio.
What are the top 5 global brands of Recarbrio?
Recarbrio is a brand name for imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam that is manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc. in the USA. There are no generic versions of Recarbrio available as of September 2023. However, there are other brands of imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam that are marketed by different companies in different countries. According to the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP), the top 5 global brands of imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam as of 2021 are:
- Recarbrio (Merck & Co., Inc.) – USA, Canada, Australia, UK, EU, India, UAE and other countries
- Relepen (Cipla Ltd.) – India and other countries
- Imirel (Lupin Ltd.) – India and other countries
- Imicil (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.) – India and other countries
- Imireb (Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.) – India and other countries
Note: The list is based on the GARP report on imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam and may not reflect the current market situation. The list does not imply any preference or recommendation for any brand.
Conclusion
Recarbrio is a new antibiotic that can treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to other antibiotics. It is a combination of imipenem, cilastatin and relebactam that works by killing bacteria and preventing their resistance mechanisms. Recarbrio is indicated for adults with limited or no alternative treatment options for complicated urinary tract infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections and hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia. Recarbrio has some common and serious side effects that should be monitored by a healthcare provider. The price and availability of Recarbrio may vary depending on the country and the healthcare system. Recarbrio is one of the several brands of imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam that are marketed by different companies in different countries.