JEIL PHARMACEUTICAL announced on the 19th that it has received approval for the domestic sale of the multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infection treatment 'Petrojaju 1 gram' (ingredient name: cefiderocol tosylate sulfate hydrate) from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the use of Petrojaju for the treatment of complex urinary tract infections, including ▲pyelonephritis caused by effective strains in adult patients, and ▲hospital-acquired pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Petrojaju is the world's first siderophore cephalosporin antibiotic developed by the Japanese research-oriented pharmaceutical company Shionogi. It overcomes the issue of reduced effectiveness of existing antibiotics due to resistance by binding to iron and being absorbed into the cells through the bacteria's own iron porin channels, producing strong antibacterial effects.
JEIL PHARMACEUTICAL secured the rights for the development and commercialization of Petrojaju by signing an exclusive supply agreement with Ping An Shionogi in July 2022.
A representative from JEIL PHARMACEUTICAL noted that "Petrojaju is an innovative antibiotic that conquers pathogens by utilizing the 'Trojan horse' principle, which allows it to penetrate bacteria through iron (Fe) porin channels, and it will be an important treatment option for patients with complex urinary tract infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia that have been difficult to treat due to multidrug-resistant infections."
Petrojaju has demonstrated activity in in-vitro experiments against various antibiotic-resistant (AMR) pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) producing metallo-beta-lactamases (MBL). Previously, it has received approvals in more than 10 countries worldwide, including the United States, Europe, and Japan, and has been designated as a national essential medicine necessary for public health crisis response and health enhancement.
Meanwhile, Ping An Shionogi was established in 2020 as a joint venture between Japan's Shionogi and China's Ping An to bring the Asian rights for Petrojaju; however, in December last year, Shionogi acquired all equity stakes in Ping An, incorporating it as a subsidiary.