# The NitroSpeed Taniborbactam NP test as a rapid test for detection of β-lactamase-mediated susceptibility to taniborbactam

## TL;DR

The NitroSpeed Taniborbactam NP test is a fast and accurate method to detect if taniborbactam inhibits β-lactamases in bacteria.

## Contribution

A rapid, validated test for assessing taniborbactam's inhibition of β-lactamases, including MBLs.

## Key findings

- The test demonstrated 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy when validated on 134 clinical isolates.
- The test can distinguish between TAN-sensitive and TAN-resistant MBL variants within 15 minutes.
- The method combines nitrocefin, ertapenem, and TAN hydrolysis to evaluate β-lactamase inhibition.

## Abstract

Taniborbactam (TAN) is an investigational β-lactamase inhibitor in clinical development combined with cefepime for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by broad-spectrum β-lactamase-expressing bacteria. Its spectrum of inhibition encompasses all classes of β-lactamases, including clinically important metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) NDM-1 and VIM-2. However, TAN lacks a significant inhibition of imipenemase-type β-lactamases. Rare TAN-resistant New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) or Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) variants (namely NDM-9, NDM-30, and VIM-83) have been identified. The NitroSpeed Taniborbactam NP test was developed to rapidly assess the β-lactamase inhibitory activity of TAN against various β-lactamases, particularly serving as an efficient tool for identifying compounds with potential activity against different types of MBLs. The test is based on the hydrolysis of (i) nitrocefin (to determine the presence or absence of β-lactamase), (ii) ertapenem (to confirm the presence or the absence of carbapenemase), and (iii) TAN (to assess whether the carbapenemase is inhibited by TAN). The test was validated using a collection of 134 genetically characterized clinical isolates (103 Enterobacterales and 31 Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The NitroSpeed Taniborbactam NP test is simple, easy to perform, and provides results within ≤15 min. When evaluated against a broad set of β-lactamases, the test demonstrated 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.

The NitroSpeed Taniborbactam NP test is a tool for evaluating metallo-β-lactamase inhibition by taniborbactam.