Biapenem

Biapenem
Clinical data
Trade namesOmegacin, Bianem
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
Routes of
administration		IV
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Identifiers
  • (4R,5S,6S)-3-(6,7-Dihydro-5H-pyrazolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazol-8- ium-6-ylsulfanyl)-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)- 4-methyl-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylate
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC15H18N4O4S
Molar mass350.39 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • CC1C2C(C(=O)N2C(=C1SC3CN4C=NC=[N+]4C3)C(=O)[O-])C(C)O
  • InChI=1S/C15H18N4O4S/c1-7-11-10(8(2)20)14(21)19(11)12(15(22)23)13(7)24-9-3-17-5-16-6-18(17)4-9/h5-11,20H,3-4H2,1-2H3/t7-,8-,10-,11-/m1/s1 checkY
  • Key:MRMBZHPJVKCOMA-YJFSRANCSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Biapenem (INN) is a carbapenem antibiotic sold in Japan under the brand name Omegacin, and in India as Bianem. It is a synthetic β-lactam antibiotic belonging to the carbapenems chemical class, developed by the Japanese subsidiary of Lederle Pharmaceuticals in the late 1980's.

Biapenem was approved for use in Japan in 2001, and launched to market there in 2002, with clinical trials approved in India in 2021, and full market launch later the same year. In clinical trials, it was found to be more effective at lower doses than imipenem, but less effective than equivalent doses of ceftazidime.

Medical uses

Biapenem is effective against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia marcescens, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Morganella morganii.

Unlike some other carbapenems, notably imipenem, biapenem is not particularly susceptible to hydrolysis by human renal dihydropeptidase-I (DHP-I), meaning it can be administered effectively without an adjunct like cilastatin.

Resistance to biapenem is similar to that of imipenem, with similar mechanisms responsible. It is most frequently given as an intravenous infusion.

References

  1. ↑ Aldridge KE, Morice N, Schiro DD (April 1994). "In vitro activity of biapenem (L-627), a new carbapenem, against anaerobes". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 38 (4): 889–893. doi:10.1128/aac.38.4.889. PMC 284564. PMID 8031067.
  2. 1 2 "Permission to conduct Clinical Trial for Biapenem Injection 300 mg (Form CT-06, File No. ND/MA/21/000018)" (PDF). Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Government of India. 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  3. 1 2 Sharma, Ruchika (2021-09-25). "BDR Pharma gets DCGI nod for generic antibiotic drug Biapenem". Medical Dialogues. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  4. 1 2 3 Ubukata K, Hikida M, Yoshida M, Nishiki K, Furukawa Y, Tashiro K, et al. (June 1990). "In vitro activity of LJC10,627, a new carbapenem antibiotic with high stability to dehydropeptidase I". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 34 (6): 994–1000. doi:10.1128/aac.34.6.994. PMC 171745. PMID 2203313.
  5. ↑ Goldstein EJ, Citron DM, Tyrrell KL, Merriam CV (June 2013). "In vitro activity of Biapenem plus RPX7009, a carbapenem combined with a serine β-lactamase inhibitor, against anaerobic bacteria". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 57 (6): 2620–2630. doi:10.1128/AAC.02418-12. PMC 3716157. PMID 23529731.
  6. ↑ Kozawa O, Uematsu T, Matsuno H, Niwa M, Takiguchi Y, Matsumoto S, et al. (June 1998). "Pharmacokinetics and safety of a new parenteral carbapenem antibiotic, biapenem (L-627), in elderly subjects". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 42 (6): 1433–1436. doi:10.1128/aac.42.6.1433. PMC 105618. PMID 9624490.
  7. ↑ Sloan RW (June 1992). "Principles of drug therapy in geriatric patients". American Family Physician. 45 (6): 2709–2718. PMID 1595518.
  8. ↑ Perry CM, Ibbotson T (2002). "Biapenem". Drugs. 62 (15): 2221–34, discussion 2235. doi:10.2165/00003495-200262150-00005. PMID 12381221.
  9. ↑ Chen HY, Livermore DM (May 1994). "In-vitro activity of biapenem, compared with imipenem and meropenem, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and mutants with known resistance mechanisms". The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 33 (5): 949–958. doi:10.1093/jac/33.5.949. PMID 8089068.
  10. ↑ Hara K, Baba S, Matsumoto F, Ooishi M, Kawada Y, Arata J, et al. (November 1999). "[Clinical evaluation of biapenem in various infectious diseases]" Clinical evaluation of biapenem in various infectious diseases. The Japanese Journal of Antibiotics (in Japanese). 52 (11): 629–660. PMID 10659441.