Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee have identified a potential drug candidate capable of restoring the efficacy of Meropenem, a widely used carbapenem antibiotic, against life-threatening drug-resistant bacteria.

The innovation targets Klebsiella pneumoniae strains that produce KPC-2, a β-lactamase enzyme recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a critical public health threat. The discovery, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, introduces a new β-lactamase inhibitor molecule, Compound 3b, that neutralises bacterial resistance mechanisms and enhances the antibiotic’s potency.

Developed under the leadership of Prof. Ranjana Pathania from IIT Roorkee’s Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, alongside Mangal Singh and the research team, the compound demonstrated high specificity, safety to human cells, and significant therapeutic outcomes in both laboratory and animal models. In preclinical lung infection studies, the combination of Compound 3b and Meropenem substantially reduced bacterial load.

“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent global health challenges. Our compound works synergistically with Meropenem, dismantling the bacteria’s defence and enabling effective treatment of otherwise untreatable infections,” said Prof. Pathania.

For pharmaceutical R&D stakeholders, this finding could open new avenues in AMR drug discovery and combination therapies. Given the rising global demand for novel β-lactamase inhibitors, IIT Roorkee’s breakthrough holds promise for translating academic research into clinically viable solutions, particularly in addressing the WHO-priority pathogen list.

Key Industry Relevance

• Target Pathogen: KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae – a WHO critical priority superbug
• Drug Class: β-lactamase inhibitor (restores antibiotic activity)
• Market Potential: High, given growing resistance to last-line antibiotics
• Next Steps: Potential clinical trials and licensing opportunities for pharma manufacturers

Also read: TI Medical Expands Senior Leadership to Power ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ Vision

This discovery underlines the crucial role of academia-industry collaboration in combating AMR and signals an important step towards developing next-generation antibiotic adjuvants.

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