• Due to widespread antibiotics use, bacterial resistance is increasing and now become a serious threat. Each year, over 2 million people are estimated to be infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, where at least 23,000 people died each year as a consequence.
• β-lactam antibiotics are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics used widely. The most prominent resistant mechanisms are the expression of β-lactamase enzymes, for which no clinically available wide-spectrum inhibitors are available. 
• According to Grand View Research, the antibiotics market is expected to reach USD 57.0 billion by 2024. 

• Figure 1. In vitro test (Bacteria density upon treatment)
  
• Figure 2. In vivo test (Bacteria challenge in mice)
  
• This invention disclosed the use of some bismuth (III) compounds as metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) inhibitors. They can be administered in combination with β-lactam antibiotics to treat MBL-producing bacterial infection. 
• In vitro and in vivo data showed that such bismuth compounds were able to inhibit the MBLs, rendering the effectiveness of the beta-lactam antibiotics (including amoxicillin, ampicillin and meropenem) against multiple resistant strains. 
• The bismuth compounds include but not limited to Colloidal bismuth subcitriate (CBS), Bismuth subsalicylate (BSS), Bismuth subgallate (BSG) and Ranitidine bismuth citriate (RBC) which are FDA-approved bismuth drugs and are safe to be used in humans.

Benefits

This invention offers a solution to treat infections caused by bacteria resistant to beta‑lactam antibiotics.

Applications

Pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of infection caused by metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) producing bacteria. 

• US Application No. 15/278,916
• PCT Application No. PCT/CN2017/102077

• Patent application submitted

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