Merck has stopped supplying Recarbrio, an antibiotic used to treat serious infections, to the U.S. market. The decision was announced earlier this month without a public explanation from the company.
Recarbrio was approved seven years ago and serves as a last-resort treatment for adults and children with severe conditions, including hospital-acquired pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infections, and stomach infections. The drug is a three-drug combination injection. It is prescribed specifically for patients who have limited or no other treatment options.
The Food and Drug Administration originally designated Recarbrio as a treatment of last resort to help mitigate antibiotic resistance. However, this classification limits the drug's potential market and sales. Merck did not disclose Recarbio sales figures in its regulatory filings. The discontinuation highlights concerns regarding the commitment large pharmaceutical companies make to developing and maintaining critical public health medications.