Merck pulls Recarbrio antibiotic from U.S. market, raising concerns over superbug resistance

Merck announced it has stopped supplying Recarbrio in the United States earlier this month.

Recarbrio, a three‑drug combination injection approved seven years ago, is used for severe infections such as hospital‑acquired pneumonia, complicated urinary tract and intra‑abdominal infections in patients with limited alternatives.

The drug was designated by the FDA as a last‑resort therapy to help curb antibiotic resistance, a status that limited its market potential. Merck gave no public explanation for the withdrawal.

The move highlights ongoing challenges for large pharma in maintaining a pipeline of antibiotics despite public health concerns about superbugs.