Alkem launches novel antibiotic combination for drug-resistant infections

The formulation, to be sold under the Zidavi brans for Rs 2,700 a vial, has been approved by US FDA, European Medicines Agency, and CDSCO

Mumbai-based drug maker Alkem launched an antibiotic on Monday to treat multiple drug-resistant infections. The firm became the first from India to launch a novel antibiotic combination for treating drug-resistant infections, the company claimed.

The antibiotic, a combination of ceftazidime and avibactam, will be sold under the brand name Zidavi. It is indicated for various ailments such as complicated urinary tract infection. It is available at a price of Rs 2,700 per vial. Zidavi is manufactured in the company’s Sikkim facility.

With the rise in infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative organisms in India, there is a need for more effective