Discovery of Taniborbactam (VNRX-5133): A Broad-Spectrum Serine- and Metallo-β-lactamase Inhibitor for Carbapenem-Resistant Bacterial Infections

A major resistance mechanism in Gram-negative bacteria is the production of β-lactamase enzymes. Originally recognized for their ability to hydrolyze penicillins, emergent β-lactamases can now confer resistance to other β-lactam drugs, including both cephalosporins and carbapenems. The emergence and global spread of β-lactamase-producing multi-drug-resistant “superbugs” has caused increased alarm within the medical community due to the high mortality rate associated with these difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. To address this unmet medical need, we initiated an iterative program combining medicinal chemistry, structural biology, biochemical testing, and microbiological profiling to identify broad-spectrum inhibitors of both serine- and metallo-β-lactamase enzymes. Lead optimization, beginning with narrower-spectrum, weakly active compounds, provided 20 (VNRX-5133, taniborbactam), a boronic-acid-containing pan-spectrum β-lactamase inhibitor. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that 20 restored the activity of β-lactam antibiotics against carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Taniborbactam is the first pan-spectrum β-lactamase inhibitor to enter clinical development.