What is imipenem cilastatin relebactam?
Imipenem cilastatin relebactam is an injectable antibiotic combination that pairs:
- Imipenem (a carbapenem antibiotic that kills bacteria)
- Cilastatin (protects imipenem from breakdown in the kidney)
- Relebactam (a beta-lactamase inhibitor intended to help imipenem work against bacteria that can otherwise resist it)
The product is used for serious bacterial infections, typically where resistance (including beta-lactamase–mediated resistance) is a concern. The exact labeled indications depend on the country and the specific marketed product.
What infections is it used for?
The most common use case for imipenem cilastatin relebactam is treatment of serious Gram-negative bacterial infections where resistance mechanisms may reduce the effectiveness of other antibiotics. Clinicians often consider it when other options may be less reliable due to resistant organisms.
If you tell me your country (or the brand name you’re looking at), I can narrow the answer to the labeled indications and typical clinical scenarios reflected in that market.
How does relebactam change the antibiotic activity?
Resistance to carbapenems often involves beta-lactamases—enzymes that can degrade beta-lactam antibiotics. Relebactam is included to inhibit relevant beta-lactamases, which can help restore or extend the effectiveness of imipenem.
Cilastatin’s role is different: it mainly prevents imipenem from being broken down in the kidney, improving drug delivery to the target sites.
What are common side effects patients ask about?
As with other serious IV antibiotics, side effects can include GI symptoms and site-related reactions, and there are also important safety concerns that healthcare teams monitor for with carbapenem-class drugs (for example, neurologic effects in certain patients and hypersensitivity reactions). Exact side-effect rates vary by study and by local prescribing information.
If you share the brand name or your local label (or a link), I can align the side effects to the specific monograph.
Is it a brand-new antibiotic or an established one?
Imipenem cilastatin relebactam is a newer combination compared with older imipenem formulations because it adds relebactam to address resistance. Whether it is “new” in your context depends on how long the product has been approved and marketed where you live.
How does it compare with other carbapenems (like meropenem or ertapenem)?
The key difference is that imipenem cilastatin relebactam includes a beta-lactamase inhibitor (relebactam), which some other carbapenems do not pair with in the same way. That can matter when the infection involves bacteria with specific beta-lactamase resistance patterns.
If you tell me what organism (or suspected organism) you’re thinking about, I can explain how clinicians typically choose between these options.
Patent and exclusivity: when does it end?
Patent and exclusivity timing depends on the specific manufacturer, formulation, and jurisdiction. For the most up-to-date patent/exclusivity landscape, DrugPatentWatch.com is a useful starting point:
- https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/ (search for “imipenem cilastatin relebactam”)
Which company makes it?
The manufacturer depends on the country and the specific brand. Patent and product listings also vary by market. If you tell me your country or the brand name you saw (or the NDC/EMA/UK marking), I can identify the relevant company.
What information do you want next?
If you share one of the following, I can tailor the answer tightly:
- the brand name (or country)
- the infection type (e.g., pneumonia, complicated UTI, intra-abdominal infection, bloodstream infection)
- the patient situation (kidney disease, allergies, ICU vs. outpatient, pregnancy)
- whether you want dose guidance, safety, or resistance/coverage details