# Pharmacodynamic evaluation of BRII-693, a next-generation synthetic macrocyclic peptide antibiotic, in the neutropenic mouse thigh and lung infection models against gram-negative pathogens

**Authors:** Alexander J. Lepak, Yali Zhu, David R. Andes

PMC · DOI: 10.1128/aac.01880-25 · Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy · 2026-02-26

## TL;DR

This study shows that BRII-693, a new antibiotic, effectively fights drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in mice, with strong results in both thigh and lung infection models.

## Contribution

The paper introduces BRII-693 as a next-generation antibiotic with a favorable pharmacodynamic profile against gram-negative pathogens.

## Key findings

- BRII-693 showed dose-dependent antibacterial activity in mouse thigh and lung infection models.
- Bacterial stasis was achieved at low AUC/MIC values for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii.
- Maximal bacterial reduction was observed at a 24 h plasma AUC/MIC value of 50 in the lung model.

## Abstract

BRII-693 is a next-generation synthetic macrocyclic peptide antibiotic for infections caused by drug-resistant gram-negative pathogens. This study evaluated the pharmacodynamic activity of BRII-693 against common gram-negative pathogens using neutropenic mouse thigh (11 strains) and lung (15 strains) infection models. BRII-693 exhibited dose-dependent increases in pharmacokinetic exposure in both plasma and epithelial lining fluid (ELF). Due to its prolonged elimination half-life within ELF, the ELF area under the curve (AUC) was higher than plasma AUC on a mg/kg basis. In dose-ranging PK/PD studies, BRII-693 demonstrated dose-dependent antibacterial activity. In both the thigh and lung models, bacterial stasis was achieved at 24 h plasma AUC/MIC values of 1–19 for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii, and 1-log kill required only modestly higher targets given the steep exposure-response relationships. Higher target exposures were noted for Pseudomonas aeruginosa studies. In the lung model, BRII-693 achieved robust cidal endpoints against all tested organisms. Maximal effect (3–4 log reduction in bacterial burden) converged at a 24 h plasma AUC/MIC value of 50. These findings demonstrate robust PK/PD profile and in vivo efficacy of BRII-693 against clinically relevant gram-negative pathogens, supporting its potential as a next-generation macrocyclic peptide antibiotic.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** BRII-693 (PubChem CID 176507621)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (taxon 10090)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** neutropenic (MESH:D044504), infection (MESH:D007239), lung (MESH:D008171), lung infection (MESH:D012141), gram (MESH:D016908), negative (MESH:D064726)
- **Chemicals:** BRII-693 (-), peptide (MESH:D010455)
- **Species:** Klebsiella pneumoniae (species) [taxon 573], Pseudomonas aeruginosa (species) [taxon 287], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Escherichia coli (E. coli, species) [taxon 562], Acinetobacter baumannii (species) [taxon 470]

## Full text

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## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13041402/full.md

## References

28 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13041402/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13041402