Last Updated: April 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.
NCT00318552 ↗ Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of First Line Meropenem Versus Standard Antibiotic Treatment in Seriously Infected Secondary Nosocomial Sepsis Syndrome Patients. Completed AstraZeneca Phase 4 2002-01-01 This study will directly compare meropenem with standard first line antibiotic therapies in subjects entering an ICU with secondary nosocomial sepsis, or who contract sepsis while resident in an ICU.
>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 4
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 91
U.S. Fed 8
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Meropenem Clinical Trials Update and Market Outlook (2019-2026)

Last updated: April 25, 2026

What is meropenem and where is it positioned clinically?

Meropenem is a parenteral carbapenem used for serious bacterial infections, typically in hospital and acute-care settings. Its clinical use pattern is concentrated in severe intra-abdominal infections, complicated skin and skin structure infections, pneumonia (including hospital-acquired), and complicated urinary tract infections. Formulations and route options are central to prescribing, with hospital formularies and stewardship frameworks driving adoption rather than new trial volume in any single ongoing program.

What do recent clinical trial signals show?

No single, dominant “registration-stage” global meropenem program is evident in the public trial record set for the 2024-2026 window at a scale comparable to new-drug pipelines. Instead, trial activity is largely concentrated in one or more of these buckets:

  • Optimization studies (dosing strategies, infusion schedules)
  • Comparative effectiveness in specific infection cohorts
  • Study of special populations (renal impairment, pediatrics, geriatric cohorts)
  • Evidence generation to support local label interpretations, stewardship protocols, and formulary decisions

A core business point for investors and R&D leaders: meropenem’s market trajectory is not driven by breakthrough efficacy claims in new phase programs. It is driven by supply, pricing, contracting, and substitution dynamics across carbapenems.

What are the commercial market drivers for meropenem?

Market performance for an off-patent antibacterial hinges on:

  • Carbapenem contracting in hospitals and integrated delivery networks
  • Uptake of newer carbapenems where pricing supports formulary position
  • Stewardship restrictions and culture-guided prescribing
  • Generic penetration and ongoing supply stability
  • Residual demand for parenteral broad-spectrum therapy in sepsis and hospital-acquired infections

Because meropenem is an older molecule, the strongest determinants of near-term revenue are pricing pressure and volume retention within hospital formularies. In parallel, infection trends (hospital-acquired infections and intra-abdominal infection burden) influence baseline demand, but do not typically create a “growth premium” like novel agents.

How much is the market and what is the projection through 2026?

A credible forward projection for meropenem requires consistent sourcing for both historical revenue and forecast methodology. With only one data point set, a full projection cannot be produced without mixing incompatible sources or assumptions. Therefore, the only market numbers below are those explicitly supported by cited sources.

Market size and forecast values

No numeric market size projection for “meropenem” alone with a 2019-2026 horizon can be stated here without a consistent cited dataset.

What does the trial and evidence landscape imply for demand?

The structure of the clinical evidence base for meropenem implies:

  • Clinicians already know the efficacy and safety profile; new trials often refine use rather than expand indications.
  • Any incremental adoption from new evidence usually depends on dosing protocol fit and local guideline adoption, not new mechanism-based benefits.
  • Revenue stability is more sensitive to pricing and contracting cycles than to trial readouts.

How does the competitive landscape shape meropenem pricing?

Meropenem competes within the carbapenem class and broader hospital antibacterial panels:

  • Other carbapenems that may displace meropenem based on dosing convenience or stewardship alignment
  • Broad-spectrum beta-lactams or beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor regimens in specific indications where susceptibility patterns allow
  • Reserve-use pressures that can reduce carbapenem use rates in antimicrobial programs

For a molecule like meropenem, competitive displacement is typically price- and formulary-driven. Where generic supply is stable and procurement prices remain favorable, meropenem keeps volume share even when stewardship programs tighten prescribing.

What IP and regulatory factors matter for meropenem now?

Meropenem is widely available as generic and branded products historically. The practical impact for business planning is that:

  • Future value creation comes from formulation differentiation, distribution leverage, and contracting rather than new patent estates
  • Any “next wave” value generally requires new clinical differentiation (for example, novel dosing regimens) that can support payer or formulary uptake

Without specific, current patent family data for your target geographies and product forms, no accurate enforcement timeline or exclusivity map can be presented here.

Where are ongoing clinical trials likely concentrated?

For meropenem, active research tends to focus on operational endpoints rather than novel endpoints:

  • Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics-driven dosing schedules (especially in critically ill patients)
  • Renal impairment dosing safety and exposure control
  • Comparative outcomes for specific infection subtypes
  • Real-world evidence or pragmatic clinical studies embedded in hospital stewardship

The commercial implication is that even if trials report statistically significant differences in operational outcomes (time to clinical improvement, microbiologic clearance rates), adoption can still remain constrained by existing formulary positions and procurement economics.

What is the actionable market outlook for 2025-2026?

Given the absence of a clearly identifiable new “registration-scale” global program and the generic nature of the molecule, the most actionable outlook is operational:

  • Meropenem demand stays tied to hospital infection burden and broad-spectrum parenteral use
  • Revenue growth, where it occurs, is typically volume-led and contract-driven, while value is capped by generic price competition
  • Forecasting should model procurement pricing trends, supply continuity, and substitution rates within carbapenems

Key Takeaways

  • Meropenem’s clinical value is established; ongoing trial activity is typically optimization and evidence refinement rather than indication expansion.
  • The main business levers are hospital contracting, stewardship prescribing patterns, and generic pricing and supply stability.
  • A precise 2019-2026 numeric market projection for meropenem cannot be produced here without a consistent cited forecast dataset focused on the meropenem-only market.
  • Investment and R&D planning should treat clinical differentiation as a formulary adoption enabler, not as a primary revenue growth engine.

FAQs

  1. Is meropenem still seeing major phase 3 registration activity globally?
    Publicly visible trial patterns indicate optimization and evidence-generation studies rather than a single dominant global registration program.

  2. What most affects meropenem revenue in hospitals?
    Procurement prices, supply stability, and formulary placement within carbapenem and hospital antibacterial panels.

  3. Do new dosing studies materially change prescribing behavior?
    They can, but adoption depends on whether dosing protocols are incorporated into hospital stewardship and guideline pathways.

  4. What risk matters most for meropenem market performance?
    Generic price compression and substitution to alternative carbapenems or beta-lactam regimens when susceptibility and stewardship allow.

  5. What should an investor model for 2025-2026?
    Contracting dynamics, price trend assumptions, volume retention in inpatient settings, and substitution rates across competing broad-spectrum agents.


References

[1] ClinicalTrials.gov. Meropenem clinical trials listings and filters (accessed 2026-04-25). https://clinicaltrials.gov/
[2] World Health Organization. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (carbapenems and hospital antibacterial guidance context) (accessed 2026-04-25). https://www.who.int/

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