Cefepime/enmetazobactam
Combination of
Cefepime	cephalosporin
Enmetazobactam	beta-lactamase inhibitor
Clinical data
ATC code	J01DE51 (WHO)

Cefepime/enmetazobactam is an experimental medication intended for the treatment of urinary tract infections and pneumonia.^[1] It is a fixed dose combination containing cefepime, a cephalosporin, and enmetazobactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor.^[1]

Society and culture

Legal status

In January 2024, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the EMA adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Exblifep, intended for the treatment of urinary tract infections and pneumonia in adults.^[1] The applicant for this medicinal product is Advanz Pharma Limited.^[1]

References

Kaye KS, Belley A, Barth P, Lahlou O, Knechtle P, Motta P, et al. (October 2022). "Effect of Cefepime/Enmetazobactam vs Piperacillin/Tazobactam on Clinical Cure and Microbiological Eradication in Patients With Complicated Urinary Tract Infection or Acute Pyelonephritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial". JAMA. 328 (13): 1304–1314. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.17034. PMC 9533186. PMID 36194218.
Papp-Wallace KM (December 2019). "The latest advances in β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations for the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections". Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 20 (17): 2169–2184. doi:10.1080/14656566.2019.1660772. PMC 6834881. PMID 31500471.

Antibacterials active on the cell wall and envelope (J01C-J01D)

Beta-lactams
(inhibit synthesis
of peptidoglycan
layer of bacterial
cell wall by binding
to and inhibiting
PBPs, a group of
D-alanyl-D-alanine
transpeptidases)

Penicillins (Penams)

Narrow
spectrum

β-lactamase sensitive (1st generation)	Benzylpenicillin (G)^# Benzathine benzylpenicillin^# Procaine benzylpenicillin^# Phenoxymethylpenicillin (V)^# Propicillin^‡ Pheneticillin^‡ Azidocillin^‡ Clometocillin^‡ Penamecillin^‡
β-lactamase resistant (2nd generation)	Cloxacillin^# (Dicloxacillin Flucloxacillin) Oxacillin Nafcillin Methicillin^‡

Extended
spectrum

Aminopenicillins (3rd generation)	Amoxicillin^# Ampicillin^# (Pivampicillin Hetacillin^‡ Bacampicillin^‡ Lenampicillin Metampicillin^‡ Talampicillin^‡) Epicillin^‡
Carboxypenicillins (4th generation)	Ticarcillin Carbenicillin^‡ / Carindacillin^‡ Temocillin^‡
Ureidopenicillins (4th generation)	Piperacillin Azlocillin^‡ Mezlocillin^‡
Other	Mecillinam (Pivmecillinam) Sulbenicillin^‡

Carbapenems / Penems

Cephems
Cephalosporins
Cephamycins
Carbacephems

1st generation	Cefazolin^# Cefalexin ^# Cefadroxil Cefapirin Cefazedone^‡ Cefazaflur^‡ Cefradine^‡ Cefroxadine^‡ Ceftezole^‡ Cefaloglycin^‡ Cefacetrile^‡ Cefalonium^‡ Cefaloridine^‡ Cefalotin Cefatrizine^‡
2nd generation	Cefaclor Cefprozil Cefuroxime Cefuroxime axetil Cefamandole^‡ Cefonicid^‡ Ceforanide^‡ Cefuzonam^‡ Cephamycin (Cefoxitin Cefotetan Cefminox^‡ Cefbuperazone^‡ Cefmetazole^‡) Carbacephem (Loracarbef^‡)
3rd generation	Cefixime^# Ceftriaxone^# Cefotaxime^# Antipseudomonal (Ceftazidime^# Cefoperazone) Cefdinir Cefcapene Cefdaloxime Ceftizoxime Cefmenoxime Cefpiramide Cefpodoxime Ceftibuten Cefditoren Cefotiam^‡ Cefetamet^‡ Cefodizime^‡ Cefpimizole^‡ Cefsulodin^‡ Cefteram^‡ Ceftiolene^‡ Oxacephem (Flomoxef Latamoxef^‡)
4th generation	Cefepime Cefozopran^‡ Cefpirome Cefquinome^‡
5th generation	Ceftaroline fosamil Ceftolozane Ceftobiprole
Siderophore	Cefiderocol^#
Veterinary	Ceftiofur Cefquinome Cefovecin

Monobactams

β-lactamase inhibitors

Combinations

Polypeptides

Glycopeptides Lipoglycopeptides	Inhibit PG chain elongation: Vancomycin^# (Oritavancin Telavancin) Teicoplanin (Dalbavancin) Ristocetin^‡ Avoparcin Inhibit autolysin: Corbomycin (not approved)
Lipopeptides	Insert into bacterial cell wall causing perforation and depolarization: Daptomycin Surfactin
Polymyxins	Bind to LPS in the outer bacterial membrane, acting in detergent-like fashion: Colistin Polymyxin B
Other	Inhibits PG elongation and crosslinking: Ramoplanin^§

Intracellular

Inhibit PG subunit synthesis and transport: NAM synthesis inhibition (Fosfomycin)
DADAL/AR inhibitors (Cycloserine)
bactoprenol inhibitors (Bacitracin)

Other

^#WHO-EM
^‡Withdrawn from market
Clinical trials:
- ^†Phase III
- ^§Never to phase III

Society and culture

Legal status

References

Further reading