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Last Updated: January 30, 2026

CLINICAL TRIALS PROFILE FOR MEROPENEM


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All Clinical Trials for MEROPENEM

Trial ID Title Status Sponsor Phase Start Date Summary
NCT00050401 ↗ Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia/Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Requiring Mechanical Ventilatory Support Completed AstraZeneca Phase 3 2002-07-01 The purpose of the study is to find out if high dose antibiotic (meropenem, MERREM® I.V.), along with another drug called an aminoglycoside (a different type of antibiotic) is effective in decreasing or reducing the rate of antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter (germs that can cause pneumonia), and the rate of resistance in other difficult to treat germs which may cause hospital-acquired pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilatory support. The study hopes to show that by increasing the amount of meropenem administered and increasing the duration of infusion (release of the drug into the bloodstream), levels of the drug will stay at target levels in the bloodstream and decrease the ability of difficult to treat germs to resist, or not be killed by, the treatment using this antibiotic (meropenem) or other antibiotics.
NCT00050401 ↗ Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia/Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Requiring Mechanical Ventilatory Support Completed Pfizer Phase 3 2002-07-01 The purpose of the study is to find out if high dose antibiotic (meropenem, MERREM® I.V.), along with another drug called an aminoglycoside (a different type of antibiotic) is effective in decreasing or reducing the rate of antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter (germs that can cause pneumonia), and the rate of resistance in other difficult to treat germs which may cause hospital-acquired pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilatory support. The study hopes to show that by increasing the amount of meropenem administered and increasing the duration of infusion (release of the drug into the bloodstream), levels of the drug will stay at target levels in the bloodstream and decrease the ability of difficult to treat germs to resist, or not be killed by, the treatment using this antibiotic (meropenem) or other antibiotics.
NCT00061438 ↗ A Study to Determine if Antibiotics Prevent Infection in the Pancreas of Patients Where Part of the Pancreas Has Died Completed AstraZeneca Phase 4 2003-02-01 This is a research study in patients having a condition known as necrotizing pancreatitis. This is inflammation of the pancreas (an intestinal organ which assists with digestion) that has resulted in the damage and death of some pancreatic tissue. This damaged pancreatic tissue may develop a bacterial infection, which can cause further -sometimes very serious- health problems. It may be possible to prevent or delay infection by giving 'prophylactic' antibiotics (that is - to provide protection before any infection starts). However, it is not certain that this antibiotic therapy will be successful. This study is being carried out to see whether the antibiotic 'Meropenem' (which is also known as MERREM I.V.) provides protection from developing a pancreatic infection. This will be done by comparing the progress of patients who receive meropenem with those who receive a non-active placebo solution (a solution that does not contain any active medication). Meropenem or placebo would be given in addition to the standard treatment received for pancreatitis. It is not known if meropenem will help prevent infections associated with necrotizing pancreatitis. Approximately 240 patients will take part in this study. Study participation will be carried out for up to 6 weeks, and patients will receive the study treatment up to a maximum of 21 days.
NCT00061438 ↗ A Study to Determine if Antibiotics Prevent Infection in the Pancreas of Patients Where Part of the Pancreas Has Died Completed Pfizer Phase 4 2003-02-01 This is a research study in patients having a condition known as necrotizing pancreatitis. This is inflammation of the pancreas (an intestinal organ which assists with digestion) that has resulted in the damage and death of some pancreatic tissue. This damaged pancreatic tissue may develop a bacterial infection, which can cause further -sometimes very serious- health problems. It may be possible to prevent or delay infection by giving 'prophylactic' antibiotics (that is - to provide protection before any infection starts). However, it is not certain that this antibiotic therapy will be successful. This study is being carried out to see whether the antibiotic 'Meropenem' (which is also known as MERREM I.V.) provides protection from developing a pancreatic infection. This will be done by comparing the progress of patients who receive meropenem with those who receive a non-active placebo solution (a solution that does not contain any active medication). Meropenem or placebo would be given in addition to the standard treatment received for pancreatitis. It is not known if meropenem will help prevent infections associated with necrotizing pancreatitis. Approximately 240 patients will take part in this study. Study participation will be carried out for up to 6 weeks, and patients will receive the study treatment up to a maximum of 21 days.
NCT00130754 ↗ Thymoglobuline in Non-myeloablative Allogeneic Stem-cell Transplantation Completed Hadassah Medical Organization Phase 3 2005-02-01 Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice for a growing number of malignant and non-malignant indications. Until recently, myeloablative in conjunction with immunosuppressive conditioning was considered mandatory for the elimination of malignant hematopoietic cells and to prevent graft rejection. The aim of allogeneic non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) is to induce host-to-graft tolerance with fast and durable engraftment of donor stem cells, by means of conditioning, which is well-tolerated by patients. The rationale behind the NST strategy is to induce optimal graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects for the elimination of all malignant cells by alloreactive immunocompetent cells from a matched donor as an alternative to standard high-dose myeloablative chemo radiotherapy. The NST protocol is therefore mainly based on immunosuppression and thus contains fludarabine, low dose busulfan and anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG). Thymoglobuline is a polyclonal rabbit antiserum specific for human T cells used in organ transplantation for induction of tolerance and rejection prevention and treatment. It was also used in stem-cell transplantation (SCT) for the same purposes (e.g. for generation of tolerance and rejection preclusion) as well as a treatment for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Data from myeloablative protocols suggest that ATG before SCT significantly reduces the risk for grade III-IV acute GVHD. This does not translate to a reduction in transplant-related mortality (TRM) because of the increased risk for infections and thus survival is unchanged. Extensive chronic GVHD was also significantly shown to be reduced in patients receiving ATG in the myeloablative setting. However, the role of ATG in the NST protocol was never evaluated in a prospective randomized trial. In view of the preliminary data suggesting of an additive effect of ATG in these circumstances we, the investigators at Hadassah Medical Organization, evaluate the effect of ATG in NST by a prospective randomized trial.
NCT00307099 ↗ Comparative Antibiotic Therapy for Subjects With Pulmonary Infiltrates in the ICU Terminated National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Phase 3 2006-10-01 This study will enroll 460 subjects who have new pulmonary infiltrates during their ICU stay and who are at low risk of having pneumonia, as determined using the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS). The study is designed to determine whether 3 days of antibiotic treatment with meropenem (with or without coverage for MRSA) for ICU subjects diagnosed with new pulmonary infiltrates can reduce the emergence of anti-microbial-resistant organisms and the isolation of a potential pathogen compared to a standard course of antibiotic therapy (minimum of 8 days of therapy with antibiotics of the primary care team's choosing). Subjects will be randomly placed in either the meropenem group or standard antibiotic therapy group. The study will also examine whether short-course therapy reduces hospital length of stay and hospital cost, without having a negative effect on subject morbidity and mortality.
>Trial ID >Title >Status >Phase >Start Date >Summary

Clinical Trial Conditions for MEROPENEM

Condition Name

Condition Name for MEROPENEM
Intervention Trials
Sepsis 13
Acute Pyelonephritis 9
Septic Shock 8
Febrile Neutropenia 7
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Condition MeSH

Condition MeSH for MEROPENEM
Intervention Trials
Infections 50
Infection 40
Communicable Diseases 39
Sepsis 26
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Clinical Trial Locations for MEROPENEM

Trials by Country

Trials by Country for MEROPENEM
Location Trials
United States 226
China 58
Spain 48
Italy 30
India 28
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Trials by US State

Trials by US State for MEROPENEM
Location Trials
California 21
Ohio 19
Florida 16
New York 15
Texas 12
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Clinical Trial Progress for MEROPENEM

Clinical Trial Phase

Clinical Trial Phase for MEROPENEM
Clinical Trial Phase Trials
PHASE4 7
PHASE3 3
PHASE2 6
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Clinical Trial Status

Clinical Trial Status for MEROPENEM
Clinical Trial Phase Trials
Completed 71
Recruiting 31
Not yet recruiting 22
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Clinical Trial Sponsors for MEROPENEM

Sponsor Name

Sponsor Name for MEROPENEM
Sponsor Trials
Pfizer 12
AstraZeneca 10
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. 8
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Sponsor Type

Sponsor Type for MEROPENEM
Sponsor Trials
Other 180
Industry 90
U.S. Fed 8
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Meropenem: Clinical Trials Update, Market Analysis, and Future Projections

Last updated: January 27, 2026


Executive Summary

Meropenem, a broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic, remains a critical agent against severe bacterial infections including meningitis, intra-abdominal infections, and pneumonia. Recent clinical developments reflect ongoing efforts to expand its indications and improve formulations. Market dynamics are influenced by rising antimicrobial resistance, regulatory approvals, and competitive landscape shifts. Projected growth underscores an increasing reliance on meropenem amid the global burden of multidrug-resistant infections, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4-6% over the next five years.


Clinical Trials Update

Current Active Clinical Trials

Trial Phase Number of Trials Focus Area Key Objectives Notable Sponsors
Phase I 3 Pharmacokinetics, Dosing Safety and optimal dose in healthy volunteers Multiple academic institutions
Phase II 9 Efficacy in complicated infections Efficacy and safety in pneumonia, meningitis Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Others
Phase III 12 Confirmatory efficacy Confirm efficacy and safety for extra-indicated uses Multiple pharma companies

(Data sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, December 2022)

Highlights

  • New Formulations in Development:
    Several trials investigate meropenem combined with novel beta-lactamase inhibitors to combat carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). For instance, Meropenem-vaborbactam trials are progressing to expand coverage against CREs.

  • Combination Therapy Investigations:
    Trials evaluating synergistic effects of meropenem with adjunct agents against multidrug-resistant pathogens are underway, indicating therapeutic strategy diversification.

  • Regulatory-Driven Trials:
    Pandemic-related studies leverage meropenem for off-label uses, including severe Covid-19 co-infections, although these are exploratory.

Recent Trial Outcomes

  • Efficacy:
    Phase III data demonstrate non-inferiority of meropenem compared to standard care in complicated intra-abdominal infections with an efficacy rate exceeding 85%.

  • Safety Profile:
    Adverse event rates remain consistent with expectations; common issues include diarrhea and hypersensitivity.


Market Analysis

Market Landscape Overview

Region Market Size (2022, USD bn) CAGR (2023-2028) Key Drivers Challenges
North America 2.8 4.2% Antimicrobial resistance, high prevalence of resistant bacteria Regulatory delays
Europe 2.2 4.5% Increasing hospital-acquired infections Pricing pressures
Asia-Pacific 1.5 6.0% Growing healthcare infrastructure, rising infections Patent expirations, generic competition
Rest of World 0.8 4.8% Increasing access to advanced antibiotics Limited healthcare budgets

(Source: Market Research Future, 2023)

Key Market Segments

Segment Market Share (2022) Growth Drivers Notable Developments
Hospital Use 65% Critical care needs Increased adoption in ICUs
Emergency & Surgery 20% Prophylactic applications Broadened indications
Community Settings 15% Outpatient infections Limited use due to resistance concerns

Competitive Landscape

Competitors Notable Products Market Share (Est. 2022) Differentiators
Pfizer Meropenem (brand: Merrem) 30% Well-established brand
AstraZeneca Generics, combination therapies 25% Portfolio diversification
Merck & Co. Vaborbactam (combination with meropenem) 10% Novel beta-lactamase inhibitors
Others Various generics 35% Price competitiveness

Market Projections

Forecasted Growth Drivers

  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):
    The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria is prompting healthcare systems to prioritize carbapenem use, supporting sustained demand.

  • Regulatory Approvals:
    Expanded indications and formulations, including pediatric and renal impairment adjustments, will encourage broader use.

  • Advances in Formulation Technology:
    Development of sustained-release and combination products aim to improve pharmacokinetics and override resistance mechanisms.

Projected Market Trends

Year Estimated Market Size (USD bn) CAGR Key Factors Influencing Growth
2023 6.7 - Baseline established
2024 7.0 4% Increased prescriptions, resistance management
2025 7.4 4.5% New formulation launches, clinical approvals
2026 8.0 4.5% Hospital adoption, guideline updates
2027 8.6 4.3% Market penetration in developing regions

Comparative Analysis

Parameter Meropenem Comparator Drugs Significance
Spectrum of Activity Broad, gram-negative and positive Similar, with some narrower agents Efficacy against resistant strains
Resistance Development Increasing, necessitating combination therapy Varies, some more resistant Drives innovation in formulations
Side Effect Profile Generally well-tolerated; possible hypersensitivity Comparable Supports safety profile \
Price Point Premium in branded form; competitive in generics Similar / lower Affects adoption in cost-sensitive markets

Regulatory and Patent Outlook

  • Patent Expiry:
    Meropenem patents in key jurisdictions have expired or are nearing expiration, increasing generic competition, especially in Asia-Pacific and Europe.

  • Regulatory Trends:
    Approval of new combination formulations and expanded indications by entities like the FDA and EMA facilitates market growth.

  • Upcoming Approvals:
    Ongoing trials with novel beta-lactamase inhibitors aim to secure approvals for resistant infections, extending patent life and market exclusivity.


Deep Dive: Therapeutic and Market Challenges

Challenge Impact Potential Solutions
Rising antimicrobial resistance Reduced efficacy and increased treatment failures Development of combination therapies, novel agents
Regulatory hurdles Delayed market entry or label expansion Engagement with regulators early in development
Generic competition post-patent expiration Price erosion, margin pressure Innovate with formulations, expand indications
Global access in emerging markets Limited availability, underuse Price strategies, partnerships with local companies

Key Takeaways

  • Continued Clinical Investment: The pipeline involving novel formulations and resistance-breaking combinations suggests future expansion.

  • Market Growth Drivers: Rising AMR, new formulations, and expanding indications support a forecasted CAGR of 4-6% until 2028.

  • Competitive Landscape: While Pfizer remains a market leader, generics and innovative combinations are increasing market diversity.

  • Regulatory Trends: Approvals for new combination therapies and indications are crucial to extending life cycles and market share.

  • Strategic Focus: Companies should prioritize resistant infection indications, global access strategies, and novel molecule development to capitalize on growth opportunities.


FAQs

1. What are the main clinical indications for meropenem?

Meropenem is primarily indicated for complicated intra-abdominal infections, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, peritonitis, and skin and soft tissue infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

2. How is the market for meropenem expected to evolve over the next five years?

The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 4-6%, driven by rising antimicrobial resistance, development of new formulations, and expanded therapeutic indications.

3. What are the recent developments in clinical trials for meropenem?

Recent trials focus on combination therapies with novel beta-lactamase inhibitors such as vaborbactam and relebactam, aiming to effectively target CRE pathogens, with promising efficacy and safety data.

4. How does antimicrobial resistance impact meropenem’s market?

AMR challenges initially threaten efficacy but have also spurred innovation, including combination therapies and new formulations, which sustain market demand by addressing resistant infections.

5. What are the key regulatory considerations for meropenem’s future?

Regulatory agencies are scrutinizing new formulations and expanded indications, and patent expirations are opening avenues for generics, affecting pricing, accessibility, and market dynamics.


References

  1. ClinicalTrials.gov. "Meropenem trials." (2022).
  2. Market Research Future. "Global Antibiotics Market Analysis." (2023).
  3. European Medicines Agency. "Regulatory update on carbapenem antibiotics." (2022).
  4. Pfizer. "Meropenem product information." (2022).
  5. World Health Organization. "Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance." (2022).

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