Biapenem (CLI 86815) is a 1-beta-methylcarbapenem antibiotic with a wide range of antibacterial activity. Biapenem has similar antibacterial activity to that of imipenem, but is more stable against human renal dehydropeptidase-I and with less neurotoxicity.

Biapenem has activity comparable to those of Imipenem and Meropenem against all groups of anaerobes with MICs for 90% of the strains tested of 0.06 to 2 mg/mL. Biapenem is more active than ampicillin-sulbactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, piperacillin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone. Biapenem is also active against all of the B. capillosus, Prevotella, Clostridium, and Eubacterium strains and anaerobic cocci tested. [1] Biapenem shows broad antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates. [2] Biapenem is found to be approximately as active as imipenem, inhibiting 90% of isolates of most species at concentrations within one dilution of the MIC of imipenem for 90% of the isolates. [3]

Biapenem results in significantly fewer viable bacteria than in the lungs of control mice. Biapenem prevents the progression of lung inflammation, including alveolar neutrophil infiltration and hemorrhage. Biapenem significantly prolongs survival and reduces the number of viable bacteria in a murine model of VAP caused by P. aeruginosa. [4]