Shanghai Securities News - On December 3, Merck announced that its novel carbapenem/enzyme inhibitor combination, injectable imipenem/cilastatin, has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China. It is indicated for the treatment of the following infections in patients aged 18 and older caused by sensitive Gram-negative bacteria: hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP); complex urinary tract infections (cUTI) with limited or no alternative treatment options (including pyelonephritis); and complex intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) with limited or no alternative treatment options.

It is noted that antibiotic resistance is a significant challenge in the field of global public health. Data from the China Antibacterial Resistance Monitoring Network (CHINET) shows that the incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections in China was 12.5% in 2014, increased to 22.9% in 2016, and rose to 26.8% in 2019. Compared to 2015, the incidence of CRE in China increased by over 58% in 2023.

Li Zhengqing, Merck's Global Senior Vice President and President of the China R&D Center, stated, “The approval of injectable imipenem/cilastatin reflects Merck’s deep expertise in the field of antibiotics and our continued investment in the development of innovative drug pipelines, providing new options for the clinical treatment of resistant infections. Merck is committed to supporting the development of China’s healthcare system and accelerating the delivery of more cutting-edge innovative drugs to Chinese patients to save lives and protect health.”

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