Imipenem · Recarbrio, MK-0787

What is Imipenem?

Imipenem is a broad-spectrum beta-lactam carbapenem antibiotic that binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) on the bacterial cell wall, weakening the wall and causing cell lysis. It is active against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms and is stable against beta-lactamases. RECARBRIO combines imipenem with cilastatin and relebactam for treating bacterial infections.

Summary written with AI from the sources listed at the end of this page.

At a glance

Also known as

Recarbrio, MK-0787, NSC-759901

Drug type

Small molecule

Targets

penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)

Mechanism

Inhibitor of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)

Pathways

bacterial cell wall synthesis

Therapy area

Infectious disease

Developer

Merck Sharp & Dohme Llc

In trials of

INVA

FDA status

Approved as Recarbrio, NDA212819 · FDA label

UNII

71OTZ9ZE0A

✅ FDA-approved uses

• Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP)
• Complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis (cUTI)
• Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI)

From the indications section of the FDA label (version of Dec 9, 2025). Read the full label for the exact wording, limitations and safety information.

🧪 Clinical trials

Trials of the companies BioRadar tracks, from ClinicalTrials.gov, most advanced phase first.

Conditions studied

Mycobacterium Abscessus InfectionMycobacterium Abscessus Pulmonary DiseaseNon-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Pulmonary DiseaseNon-Tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Infections

Sources

• FDA label (DailyMed)
• FDA label Recarbrio (2025-12-09), indications
• NCI Thesaurus

Updated Oct 3, 2026.