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Invanz: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Invanz - General Information

Invanz is a carbapenem antibiotic marketed by Merck as Invanz®. It is structurally very similar to meropenem in that it possess a 1-beta-methyl group. [Wikipedia]

 

Pharmacology of Invanz

Invanz has in vitro activity against gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

 

Invanz for patients

Patients should be counseled that antibacterial drugs including INVANZ should only be used to treat bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections (e.g., the common cold). When INVANZ is prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, patients should be told that although it is common to feel better early in the course of therapy, the medication should be taken exactly as directed. Skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may (1) decrease the effectiveness of the immediate treatment and (2) increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable by INVANZ or other antibacterial drugs in the future.

 

Invanz Interactions

When ertapenem is co-administered with probenecid (500 mg p.o. every 6 hours), probenecid competes for active tubular secretion and reduces the renal clearance of ertapenem. Based on total ertapenem concentrations, probenecid increased the AUC by 25% and reduced the plasma and renal clearances by 20% and 35%, respectively. The half-life increased from 4.0 to 4.8 hours. Because of the small effect on half-life, the coadministration with probenecid to extend the half-life of ertapenem is not recommended. In vitro studies indicate that ertapenem does not inhibit P-glycoprotein-mediated transport of digoxin or vinblastine and that ertapenem is not a substrate for P-glycoprotein-mediated transport.

In vitro studies in human liver microsomes indicate that ertapenem does not inhibit metabolism mediated by any of the following six cytochrome p450 (CYP) isoforms: 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 and 3A4. Drug interactions caused by inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated drug clearance or CYP-mediated drug clearance with the listed isoforms are unlikely.

Other than with probenecid, no specific clinical drug interaction studies have been conducted.

 

Invanz Contraindications

INVANZ is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of this product or to other drugs in the same class or in patients who have demonstrated anaphylactic reactions to beta-lactams.

Due to the use of lidocaine HCl as a diluent, INVANZ administered intramuscularly is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to local anesthetics of the amide type. (Refer to the prescribing information for lidocaine HCl.)

 

Additional information about Invanz

Invanz Indication: For the treatment the following moderate to severe infections caused by susceptible isolates of the designated microorganisms: (1) complicated intra-abdominal infections due to Escherichia coli, Clostridium clostridioforme, Eubacterium lentum, Peptostreptococcus species, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides distasonis, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, or Bacteroides uniformis, (2) complicated skin and skin structure infections, including diabetic foot infections without osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin susceptible isolates only), Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Bacteroides fragilis, Peptostreptococcus species, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, or Prevotella bivia, (3) community acquired pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin susceptible isolates only) including cases with concurrent bacteremia, Haemophilus influenzae (beta-lactamase negative isolates only), or Moraxella catarrhalis, (4) complicated urinary tract infections including pyelonephritis due to Escherichia coli, including cases with concurrent bacteremia, or Klebsiella pneumoniae, (5) acute pelvic infections including postpartum endomyometritis, septic abortion and post surgical gynecologic infections due to Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, Peptostreptococcus species, or Prevotella bivia. Mechanism Of Action: The bactericidal activity of ertapenem results from the inhibition of cell wall synthesis and is mediated through ertapenem binding to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs). In Escherichia coli, it has strong affinity toward PBPs 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with preference for PBPs 2 and 3. Invanz is stable against hydrolysis by a variety of beta-lactamases, including penicillinases, and cephalosporinases and extended spectrum beta-lactamases. Invanz is hydrolyzed by metallo-beta-lactamases. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Ertapenem Synonyms: Not Available Drug Category: Antibacterial Agents Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Ertapenem: Invanz; Absorption: The mean bioavailability is approximately 90%. Toxicity (Overdose): Not Available Protein Binding: Ertapenem is highly bound to human plasma proteins, primarily albumin, in a concentration-dependent manner. The protein binding of ertapenem decreases as plasma concentrations increase. At a plasma concentration of <100 µg/mL, approximately 95% of ertapenem is protein bound. Protein binding of ertapenem decreases to approximately 85% at an approximate plasma concentration of 300 µg/mL. Biotransformation: The major metabolite is the inactive ring-opened derivative formed by hydrolysis of the β-lactam ring. Ertapenem did not inhibit metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A4 when evaluated by in vitro studies in human liver microsomes. Half Life: The mean plasma half-life is approximately 4 hours. Dosage Forms of Invanz: Powder, for solution Intravenous Chemical IUPAC Name: (4R,5S,6S)-3-[(3S,5S)-5-[(3-carboxyphenyl)carbamoyl]pyrrolidin-3-yl]sulfanyl-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid Chemical Formula: C22H25N3O7S Ertapenem on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ertapenem Organisms Affected: Enteric bacteria and other eubacteria