Alkem, an Indian multinational pharma company, on Monday announced that it has launched a novel anti-infective in India under the brand name Zidavi.
“Zidavi, which is a novel combination of ceftazidime and avibactam, is recommended by the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as a preferred treatment against OXA-48-like and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) for pyelonephritis or Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI) and in other CRE infections caused by KPC and OXA-48 producers,” the company said in a statement on Monday.
According to the company, with the rise in infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative organisms in India, there is a need for more effective antibiotic treatment.
The pharma company claims that Zidavi (ceftazidime-avibactam) is a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of infections complicated by multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms.
This combination has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) as an effective alternative to meropenem and colistin in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs).
Zidavi 2.5g (ceftazidime and avibactam) for infusion is available as a sterile powdered concentrate for reconstitution. Each single-dose vial contains ceftazidime pentahydrate equivalent to 2g ceftazidime and avibactam sodium equivalent to 0.5g avibactam, the company said.
It is available at a price of Rs. 2,700/vial. Zidavi is manufactured in the company’s manufacturing plant in Sikkim.
“With the launch of Zidavi, our aim is to ensure that Alkem continues to remain at the forefront while partnering with clinicians for saving lives,” said a company spokesperson in a statement.
Combination therapy with ceftazidime-avibactam presents a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of infections complicated by MDR Gram-negative pathogens & all the evidence favors the use of Zidavi (ceftazidime-avibactam) in the Indian setting, it added.
“Ensuring that all patients have access to quality-produced, world-class treatment was the main reason for launching the drug in India. BDR Pharma has a vision of strengthening the R&D department and works in accordance with the needs of the people. We are extremely pleased with the launch of Ceftazidime Avibactum because it will add to the repertoire of physicians treating infections,” Raheel Shah, Director of Business Development, BDR Group, said in a statement.
On Monday, another pharma major, BDR pharmaceuticals also announced the launch of new generic for the antibiotic combination of Ceftazidime and Avibactum. The generic, XAVITAZ, is a combination of 2g Ceftazidime & 500mg Avibactam, and it is useful in treating resistant gram negative infections, including those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and many Ceftazidime resistant strains.