What Is Imipenem?
What is imipenem used for?
98% type Imipenem monohydrate is a yellowish to orange powder, while 99% refined powder is white.
We will include two photos below so you can see the difference.
It is a semi-synthetic beta-lactam carbapenem antibiotic widely used for research.
Imipenem was first discovered and patented by Merck scientists Burton Christensen, William Leanza, and Kenneth Wildonger in the 1970s.
It was not approved for medical use in the USA until 1985.
Imipenem is highly resistant to the β-lactamase enzymes produced by multiple drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, so it is used to treat infections that other antibiotics cannot cure.
Many formulations on the market combine cilastatin sodium.
How Much Does Impenem API Cost?
Currently, three types of pure imipenem powder are available on the market.
Different types have different prices, as follows:
#1. GMP-approved APIs suitable for human medicine manufacturing.
In China, there are three GMP manufacturers of imipenem API.
1.1 Zhuhai United Lab
Their price is around 6000~8000 USD per kilo for commercial orders.
Samples of small quantities are not available.
1.2 Zhejiang Hisun Pharma
Not sure if they have it in stock
1.3. Shandong New Times
No idea if they have it.
#2. Reagent companies.
Reagent companies do have it for sale.
The only problem is their price.
The price of imipenem from reagent companies for 1 g is over 11,000 USD.
#3. CRO labs.
TSomelabs provides custom synthesis services for imipenem hydrate.
If you happen to be a researcher who needs 100 grams or more for your research, you’d better contact them.
You can get an offer of 100 USD/G to 60 USD/G, depending on your order quantity.
How To Ship and Store Imipenem API?
For shipments of small quantities, such as 100~200G, shipping by couriers such as FedEx or TNT is the most suitable way.
#1. How To Ship It
To ship chemicals from China by air or courier, FedEx or TNT requires a certificate of safe air transportation issued by the DGM or another institution.
The good thing is that DGM has tested and proved that imipenem is safe for shipping by air or courier.
It is not a dangerous chemical but a common one shipped by air.
Thus, shipping it by air or courier is not a problem in China, and we will ensure you receive the package quickly.
As it is an antibiotic, the temperature during transportation should not exceed 35 Degrees Celsius within 7 days of shipping.
Adding ice bags to the package is better so the product won’t go bad.
#2. How To Store It
Store it in a freezer at -20 Degrees Celsius for long-term storage, protected from light and moisture.
It is preferred to be vacuum-packed so the air in the package will oxidize it.
For short-period storage, you must ensure the temperature is around 2~8 Degrees Celsius.
You should use it within 2~3 days to avoid affecting the test results.
Imipenem vs Meropenem
What They Have In Common
Both imipenem and meropenem belong to the carbapenem family.
They look pretty similar: both are off-white to slightly yellowish crystalline powders.
If you put both samples together, you cannot tell which is which by their character.
Both of them share the attributes of Carbapenems:
1. Wide antibacterial spectrum
Vigorous antibacterial activity against various G+, G-, and anaerobic bacteria, poor antibacterial effect against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus and maltophilic narrow-feeding Staphylococcus, etc., and ineffective against fungi.
2. Strong antibacterial effects
Carbapenems are tightly bound to PBPs (penicillin-binding proteins).
3. Stable to β-lactamases
Antibiotic after-effects (on G+ and G- bacteria), etc.
4. The antimicrobial spectrum determines broad clinical indications
4.1 Severe infections caused by multi-resistant but drug-susceptible aerobic gram-negative bacilli
4.2 Mixed infections of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria,a such as Bacteroides fragilis
4.3 Empirical treatment of severe infections in immunodeficient patients whose pathogenic organisms have not been identified.
However, their clinical uses require special attention
#1. They are contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to this class of drugs and their components
#2. It is not indicated for treating mild infections, much less as prophylaxis.
#3. Patients with neurological infections who are indicated for meropenem or panipenem should still be closely monitored for the development of convulsions.
#4. Patients with renal insufficiency and elderly patients should reduce the dosage according to the degree of renal decompensation.
#5. The Carbapenem family is a super broad-spectrum antibiotic. Its long-term application is prone to fungal infections and can cause antibiotic diarrhea.
Below is a video on the mechanism of action of carbapenems.
Their Differences
Their chemical structures show they share the same partial components; their different structural parts are linked through the atom S.
Chemically speaking, the different parts of their structure have decided they will exert their characters from the beginning.
Today, we will discuss their differences point by point, such as the antimicrobial spectrum, mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, etc., so you guys can understand them once and for all.
#1. Birthday and time to market
Imipenem was first patented in 1975 and not marketed in the USA till 1985. (trade name Primaxin, along with others)
Meropenem was patented in 1983. It was first approved for medical use in Italy in 1995. (Marketed as Merrem, among others)
One year later, in 1996, it was approved in the USA.
#2. Antibacterial activity
The structural differences between imipenem and meropenem are mainly in the substituents at the C1 and C2 positions.
Thus, their antibacterial activities against G+ bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), etc., differ.
2.1 Staphylococcus and Enterococcus spp bacteria
Imipenem>Meropenem
2.2 Enterobacteriaceae bacteria
Meropenem>Imipenem
2.3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Meropenem>Imipenem
2.4 Anaerobic bacteria
Meropenem=Imipenem
#3. Drug tolerance
MRSA, maltophilia, Burkholderia cepacia, and Enterococcus faecalis have similar resistance profiles to imipenem and meropenem.
#4. Stability after administration
Imipenem has the H-atom at position C1, which is easily degraded by p-renal dehydrogenase. It must be combined with an enzyme inhibitor (cilastatin sodium) to avoid its metabolism in the kidney.
Therefore, to ensure the imipenem has stable efficacy, it must be combined with Cilastatin Sodium.
Meropenem has a methyl (-CH3) group at the C1 position, making it stable against renal dehydropeptidase and not requiring enzyme inhibitors.
#5. Indications
Indications for imipenem include:
Bacterial endocarditis (caused by MSSA), sepsis, skin and soft tissue infections; lower respiratory tract infections; gynecologic infections; intra-abdominal infections; multipathogenic infections; uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections; gas gangrene, diabetic foot infections, bone/joint infections.
Indications for meropenem include:
1. Abdominal infections (appendicitis and peritonitis) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. fragilis, S. polymorpha, and Streptococcus pepticus
2. Meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis (children three months or older)
3. Complicated skin and soft tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA only), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus aureus, Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus griseus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus fragilis, and Streptococcus peptidis
#6. Regular dose for adults
Imipenem:
Mild to moderate infections: 00.25- 0.5 g IV q6h.
Urinary tract infections: 0.5g IV q6-8h
Severe or Pseudomonas infections: 1g IV q6-8h
Obese patients: 1g IV q6h is recommended, but no clinical data are available.
Meropenem:
Mild to moderate infections: 1 dose of 1 g every 8 hours administered intravenously.
Severe infections and CNS infections: intravenous administration of 1 dose of 2 g every 8 hours
obese patients: intravenous administration of 1 dose of 2 g every 8 hours (limited data).
With ↑ PK/PD parameters, some experts recommend an extended infusion (> four h) for the treatment of severe infections and/or moderately resistant microorganisms (in combination with aminoglycosides).
The points above are pretty much what we know about the differences and similarities between imipenem and meropenem.
If you have different opinions, you are welcome to contact us anytime.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and is intended for business-to-business communication within the pharmaceutical industry. It is not intended as medical advice. The manufacture, import, and use of API must comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the relevant country or region.
This blog post is informational only and does not constitute medical advice.
Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment.
