Acinetobacter baumannii is a bacteria that has become a major challenge in hospitals worldwide due to its resistance to commonly used antibiotics. In recent years, the emergence and spread of drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter have further complicated treatment options, making it increasingly difficult to manage infections caused by this pathogen. However, a new drug called Sulbactam-Durlobactam has shown promising results in treating drug-resistant Acinetobacter infections. In this article, we will discuss the mechanism of action of Sulbactam-Durlobactam, its effectiveness against Acinetobacter, and the potential impacts of this new drug on the management of drug-resistant infections.
Entasis Therapeutics is a company seeking to develop innovative treatments for infections that are resistant to antibiotics. The senior vice president of research, Alita Miller, recently spoke to Contagion about research the company plans to present at the 2023 European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). One of Entasis’ investigational therapies is called Sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR), which is an intravenous combination of sulbactam, an IV β-lactam antibiotic and durlobactam, a novel broad-spectrum IV β-lactamase inhibitor. SUL-DUR targets Acinetobacter baumannii infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant and carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) strains.
According to Alita Miller, Acinetobacter is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be a very high unmet medical need, as it is responsible for the fifth leading cause of death worldwide attributed to drug resistance in nonbacteria. Due to the high drug resistance of Acinetobacter, there are not many treatment options, and Miller noted there is no clear standard of care for these infections.
One of the poster presentations examined by Entasis at ECCMID studied the efficacy of Sulbactam-durlobactam versus colistin for the treatment of infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (ABC). The researchers chose colistin as the comparator because it is known to have very low rates of resistance, around 4% worldwide. However, in phase 3 trials, Miller said colistin resistance was found to be up to 17%. The majority of patients who had colistin-resistant infections were treated successfully with Sulbactam-durlobactam. The primary efficacy endpoints for this study were all-cause mortality at 28 days and the reduction in nephrotoxicity. Sulbactam-durlobactam performed better than colistin on both counts. SUL-DUR also met its secondary trial endpoints, including clinical cure and microbiological outcome.
Entasis submitted a new drug application (NDA) for Sulbactam-durlobactam to the FDA and was granted an advisory committee meeting, scheduled for April 17. The PDUFA date for the drug is May 29, 2023, and the agent could be available soon after if approved. Miller and her team believe the evidence is robust enough to show that Sulbactam-durlobactam represents a potential new therapeutic option for the treatment of drug-resistant Acinetobacter infections, which otherwise have very high rates of morbidity and mortality.
In conclusion, Sulbactam-Durlobactam is a promising treatment for drug-resistant Acinetobacter infections. The combination has demonstrated a high level of efficacy in clinical trials and has shown to be effective against a wide range of Acinetobacter strains. Additionally, it has been found to have a low risk of adverse events and drug interactions, making it a safe option for patients. As the problem of antibiotic resistance continues to grow, Sulbactam-Durlobactam offers a glimmer of hope for the treatment of these challenging infections. We hope that further research and development will continue to improve the effectiveness of this powerful antibiotic combination.