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zemdri

Pharmaranks rates Zemdri 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Zemdri (Plazomicin Sulfate) is a medication used to treat Escherichia Coli Infections, Pyelonephritis, Urinary Tract Infections.

Plazomicin Sulfate · by Cipla

70/100Limited · 1 source

Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 22, 2026·How we rate
Verified againstopenFDANIH DailyMedRxClass

Key facts

Active ingredient
Plazomicin Sulfate
Form
Injectable
Strength
Plazomicin Sulfate EQ 500MG BASE/10ML (EQ 50MG BASE/ML)
Type
Prescription (Rx)
Brand or generic
Brand-name
Manufacturer
Cipla
FDA application
NDA210303
Availability
Discontinued (per FDA)

What is Zemdri?

From the FDA label:11. DESCRIPTION ZEMDRI contains plazomicin sulfate, a semi-synthetic aminoglycoside antibacterial derived from sisomicin. The chemical name of plazomicin sulfate is (2" R ,3" R ,4" R ,5" R )-2"-[(1 S ,2 S ,3 R ,4 S ,6 R )-4-amino-6-[(2'" S )-4'"-amino-2'"-hydroxybutanamido)amino]-3-[(2' S ,3' R )-3'-amino-6'-((2-hydroxyethylamino)methyl)-3',4'-dihydro-2H-pyran-2'-yloxy]-2-hydroxycyclohexyloxy]-5''-methyl-4''-(methylamino)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-3'',5''-diol sulfate. Plazomicin sulfate contains a theoretical 2.5 molar equivalents of sulfate relative to the freebase, based on complete protonation. The molecular weight of plazomicin sulfate is calculated based on 1:2.5 stoichiometry. The corresponding empirical formula is C 25 H 48 N 6 O 10 ∙2.5 H 2 SO 4 (plazomicin sulfate) and the molecular weight of the plazomicin sulfate salt is 837.89 g/mol and the molecular weight of the freebase is 592.69 g/mol. Figure 1: Chemical Structure of Plazomicin Sulfate ZEMDRI injection 500 mg/10 mL is a sterile, clear, colorless-to-yellow liquid for intravenous administration supplied in 10-mL single-dose Type 1 glass vials. Each vial contains plazomicin sulfate equivalent to 500 mg plazomicin freebase at a concentration of 50 mg/mL adjusted to pH 6.5. Each vial also contains Water for Injection and sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment. This sterile, nonpyrogenic solution is formulated without…

How to use

Administer ZEMDRI 15 mg/kg every 24 hours by intravenous (IV) infusion over 30 minutes to patients 18 years of age or older with creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 90 mL/min. ( 2.1 ) Recommended duration of treatment is 4 to 7 days for cUTI, including pyelonephritis. ( 2.1 ) Assess creatinine clearance in all patients prior to initiating therapy and daily during therapy. ( 2.2 ) Recommended initial dosage regimen for patients with renal impairment is shown in the table below. ( 2.3 ) Estimated CLcr CLcr estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula. ( 2.3 ) (mL/min) Recommended Dosage for ZEMDRI Calculate dosage using Total Body Weight (TBW). For patients with TBW greater than IBW by 25% or more, use adjusted body weight. ( 2.3 ) Dosing Interval Greater than or equal to 60 to less than 90 15 mg/kg Every 24 hours Greater than or equal to 30 to less than 60 10 mg/kg Every 24 hours Greater than or equal to 15 to less than 30 10 mg/kg Every 48 hours See Full Prescribing Information for subsequent dosage adjustment based on changes in renal function or Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM). ( 2.3 , 2.4 ). See Full Prescribing Information for instructions on preparation of the solution, stability in intravenous fluids and drug compatibilities. ( 2.5 , 2.6 , 2.7 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage regimen of ZEMDRI is 15 mg/kg administered every 24 hours by intravenous…

Side effects

The following important adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in the Warnings and Precautions section: Nephrotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Ototoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Neuromuscular Blockade [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Fetal Harm [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Clostridium difficile -Associated Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Most common adverse reactions (≥ 1% of patients treated with ZEMDRI) are decreased renal function, diarrhea, hypertension, headache, nausea, vomiting and hypotension. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Achaogen at 1-833-252-6402 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be compared directly to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. ZEMDRI was evaluated in two comparator-controlled clinical trials (Trial 1, NCT02486627 and Trial 2, NCT01096849) in patients with cUTI, including pyelonephritis. In both trials, patients with CLcr greater than 60 mL/min received ZEMDRI 15 mg/kg IV once daily as a 30-minute infusion [ see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . Trial 1…

FDA Boxed Warning (the FDA’s most serious warning)

Boxed (black-box) warning — from the FDA label

NEPHROTOXICITY, OTOTOXICITY, NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKADE and FETAL HARM Nephrotoxicity has been reported with ZEMDRI. The risk of nephrotoxicity is greater in patients with impaired renal function, the elderly, and in those receiving concomitant nephrotoxic medications. Assess creatinine clearance in all patients prior to initiating therapy and daily during therapy [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is recommended for complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) patients with CLcr less than 90 mL/min to avoid potentially toxic levels [see Dosage and Administration (2.3 , 2.4) ] . Ototoxicity, manifested as hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or vertigo, has been reported with ZEMDRI. Symptoms of aminoglycoside-associated ototoxicity may be irreversible and may not become evident until after completion of therapy. Aminoglycoside-associated ototoxicity has been observed primarily in patients with a family history of hearing loss, patients with renal impairment, and in patients receiving higher doses and/or longer durations of therapy than recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Aminoglycosides have been associated with neuromuscular blockade. During therapy with ZEMDRI, monitor for adverse reactions associated with neuromuscular blockade, particularly in high-risk patients, such as patients with underlying neuromuscular disorders (including myasthenia gravis) or in patients concomitantly receiving neuromuscular blocking agents [see Warning and Precautions (5.3) ] . Aminoglycosides, including ZEMDRI, can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) , Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ] . WARNING: NEPHROTOXICITY, OTOTOXICITY, NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKADE and FETAL HARM See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Nephrotoxicity has been reported with ZEMDRI. The risk of nephrotoxicity is greater in patients with impaired renal function, the elderly, and in those receiving concomitant nephrotoxic medications. ( 5.1 ) Ototoxicity, manifested as hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or vertigo, has been reported with ZEMDRI. Symptoms of aminoglycoside associated ototoxicity may be irreversible and may not become evident until after completion of therapy. ( 5.2 ) Aminoglycosides have been associated with neuromuscular blockade. During therapy with ZEMDRI, monitor for adverse reactions associated with neuromuscular blockade particularly in high-risk patients. ( 5.3 ) Aminoglycosides, including ZEMDRI can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. ( 5.6 , 8.1 )

Warnings

Important safety information

Hypersensitivity Reactions, including anaphylaxis: Reported for aminoglycosides. If an allergic reaction occurs, discontinue ZEMDRI. ( 5.4 ) Clostridium difficile -Associated Diarrhea : Reported for nearly all systemic antibacterial drugs. Evaluate if diarrhea occurs. ( 5.5 ) 5.1 Nephrotoxicity Nephrotoxicity has been reported with the use of ZEMDRI [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. Most serum creatinine increases were ≤ 1 mg/dL above baseline and reversible. In Trial 1, the incidence of adverse reactions associated with renal function (acute kidney injury, serum creatinine increased, chronic kidney disease, creatinine clearance decreased, renal failure, renal impairment) was 3.6% (11/303) in ZEMDRI-treated patients compared with 1.3% (4/301) in meropenem-treated patients [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. Serum creatinine increases of 0.5 mg/dL or greater above baseline occurred in 7% (21/300) of ZEMDRI-treated patients compared with 4% (12/297) of meropenem-treated patients. These increases mainly occurred in patients with CLcr ≤ 90 mL/min and were associated with a plazomicin trough level (C min ) greater than or equal to 3 mcg/mL [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] . Assess CLcr in all patients prior to initiating therapy and daily during therapy with ZEMDRI, particularly in those at increased risk of nephrotoxicity, such as those with renal impairment, the elderly, and those receiving concomitant potentially nephrotoxic medications. In the setting of worsening renal function, the benefit of continuing ZEMDRI should be assessed [see Dosage and Administration (2.2 , 2.4) , Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.5 , 8.6) ] . Adjust the initial dosage regimen in cUTI patients with CLcr ≥ 15 mL/min and < 60 mL/min [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . For subsequent doses, TDM is recommended for patients with CLcr ≥15 mL/min and < 90 mL/min [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ] . 5.2 Ototoxicity Ototoxicity, manifested as hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or vertigo, has been reported with ZEMDRI. Symptoms of aminoglycoside-associated ototoxicity may be irreversible and may not become evident until after completion of therapy. Regarding the incidence of adverse reactions associated with cochlear or vestibular function, in Trial 1, there was one case of reversible hypoacusis (1/303;0.3%) in ZEMDRI-treated patients and one case of tinnitus (1/301;0.3%) in meropenem-treated patients [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . In Trial 2, one case each of irreversible tinnitus and reversible vertigo was reported in ZEMDRI-treated patients, and one case of an abnormal audiogram occurred in a levofloxacin-treated patient [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Aminoglycoside-associated ototoxicity has been observed primarily in patients with a family history of hearing loss (excluding age-related hearing loss), patients with renal impairment, and in patients receiving higher doses and/or for longer periods than recommended. In Trial 1 and Trial 2, patients with a history of hearing loss, with the exception of age-related hearing loss, were excluded. The benefit-risk of ZEMDRI therapy should be considered in these patients. 5.3 Neuromuscular Blockade Aminoglycosides have been associated with exacerbation of muscle weakness in patients with underlying neuromuscular disorders, or delay in recovery of neuromuscular function in patients receiving concomitant neuromuscular blocking agents. During therapy with ZEMDRI, monitor for adverse reactions associated with neuromuscular blockade, particularly in high-risk patients, such as patients with underlying neuromuscular disorders (including myasthenia gravis) or those patients concomitantly receiving neuromuscular blocking agents. 5.4 Fetal Harm Aminoglycosides, including ZEMDRI, can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Aminoglycosides cross the placenta, and streptomycin has been associated with several reports of total, irreversible, bilateral congenital deafness in pediatric patients exposed in utero . Patients who use ZEMDRI during pregnancy, or become pregnant while taking ZEMDRI should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ] . 5.5 Hypersensitivity Reactions Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients receiving aminoglycoside antibacterial drugs. Before therapy with ZEMDRI is instituted, careful inquiry about previous hypersensitivity reactions to other aminoglycosides should be made. A history of hypersensitivity to other aminoglycosides is a contraindication to the use of ZEMDRI, because cross-sensitivity among aminoglycoside antibacterial drugs has been established. Discontinue ZEMDRI if an allergic reaction occurs. 5.6 Clostridium difficile -Associated Diarrhea Clostridium difficile- associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported for nearly all systemic antibacterial drugs and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial drugs alters the normal flora of the colon and may permit overgrowth of C. difficile. C. difficile produces toxins A and B that contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin-producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibacterial use. Careful medical history is necessary because CDAD has been reported to occur more than 2 months after the administration of antibacterial drugs. If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, antibacterial drugs not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Manage fluid and electrolyte levels as appropriate, supplement protein intake, monitor antibacterial treatment of C. difficile, and institute surgical evaluation as clinically indicated. 5.7 Development of Drug-Resistant Bacteria Prescribing ZEMDRI in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria .

Who should not take Zemdri

ZEMDRI is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any aminoglycoside [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . ZEMDRI is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any aminoglycoside ( 4 , 5.4 )

Overdose — what happens if you take too much

In the event of overdosage, ZEMDRI should be discontinued and supportive care is advised. Maintenance of glomerular filtration and careful monitoring of renal function is recommended. Hemodialysis may aid in the removal of ZEMDRI from the blood, especially if renal function is, or becomes, compromised. No clinical information is available on the use of hemodialysis to treat ZEMDRI overdosage.

U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.

May treat (source: NIH RxClass)

Dosage forms

Injectable

The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.

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Frequently asked questions

What does Zemdri treat?
Zemdri (Plazomicin Sulfate) may be used to treat escherichia coli infections, pyelonephritis, urinary tract infections, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
How is Zemdri rated?
pharmaranks gives Zemdri a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
Is there a coupon or discount for Zemdri?
pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Zemdri. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
Who makes Zemdri?
Zemdri is marketed by Cipla. You can see Cipla's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
Is Zemdri a brand-name or generic drug?
Zemdri is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Plazomicin Sulfate.
Is Zemdri available over the counter?
No. Zemdri is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
What forms does Zemdri come in?
Zemdri is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
Is Zemdri FDA-registered?
Zemdri is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA210303. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
Has Zemdri been recalled by the FDA?
Zemdri has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
Is Zemdri safe?
There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Zemdri a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
What are the side effects of Zemdri?
Zemdri's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following important adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in the Warnings and Precautions section: Nephrotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Ototoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Neuromuscular Blockade [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Fetal Harm [see Warni… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.

Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

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