GSK’s Amanda Peppercorn on bringing the first oral carbapenem to cUTI patients

The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of Utebzi (tebipenem pivoxil) gives physicians the first oral carbapenem option for adults with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), including pyelonephritis, who have limited or no alternative oral treatment options.

For UK pharma major GSK (LSE/NYSE: GSK), which is developing and commercializing the drug under a licensing agreement with Spero Therapeutics (Nasdaq: SPRO), the decision is a notable milestone in a field where new antibiotics have been difficult to bring to market.