Korean Pharmaceutical Launches Fetroja Antibiotic to Treat Severe Infections

South Korean pharmaceutical company launches a new antibiotic to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Jeil Pharmaceutical, a South Korean public pharmaceutical company launches Fetroja (cefiderocol), a siderophore cephalosporin. This new antibiotic has been introduced in Korea, providing a new therapeutic option for patients with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections that cannot be treated with current medicines.

Fetroja is a new medication created by Japan's Shionogi. Jeil Pharmaceutical confirmed its launch this month after obtaining insurance coverage and clearance from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) following the signing of an exclusive domestic supply deal with Shionogi in 2022.

According to the Jeil Pharmaceutical official, Antibiotic resistance is one of the major challenges facing modern medicine. Fetroja holds significant meaning as it offers a new treatment option for patients suffering from the lack of appropriate therapies. The official said that they will continue to supply innovative solutions to help domestic medical professionals treat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections more effectively, thereby fulfilling their social responsibility.

Among the growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) instances in Korea, Fetroja can provide patients new treatment options and is expected to offer a practical alternative in clinical settings where suitable treatment alternatives have been limited.

Fetroja initiated the world's first implementation of the so-called Trojan horse mechanism, which uses iron absorbed by bacteria for survival to infiltrate bacterial cells. With this method, the antibiotic can avoid the resistance pathways that prevent the action of traditional antibiotics.

For patients with severe infections, such as those with complex urinary tract infections (cUTI), hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia, ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP), and infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Fetroja is expected to play a crucial role as a final hope and a final treatment.