Compounds and their use

1. A method of treating a carbapenemase-producing bacterial infection in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antibiotics and a compound of formula (I)

or tautomeric forms, stereoisomers, polymorphs, solvates, hydrates, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof, thereby treating the carbapenemase-producing bacterial infection,

wherein:

A=C or N;

Het is a substituted three- to seven-membered heterocyclic ring;

R 1 represents a carboxylate anion or —COOR 4 , wherein R 4 represents hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 6 -C 10 arylC 1 -C 6 alkyl, methoxybenzyl, nitrobenzyl, silyl, diphenylmethyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt;

R 2 and R 3 may be same or different and independently represent hydrogen, halogen, amino, protected amino or optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;

R represents a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 6 -C 10 arylC 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl, oxo, heterocyclyl or heterocyclylalkyl group; and

when the groups R, R 2 and R 3 are substituted, the substituents which may be one or more are selected from lower alkyl; lower alkoxy; lower alkylthio; lower alkylamino; cyclo(lower)alkyl; cyclo(lower)alkenyl; hydroxy; halogen; amino; protected amino; cyano; nitro; carbamoyl; —CONHC 1 -C 4 alkyl-COO—C 1 -C 4 alkyl; carboxy; protected carboxy; —COO—C 1 -C 4 alkyl; —CO-heterocyclyl; sulfonyl; sulfamoyl; imino; oxo; amino(lower)alkyl; halo(lower)alkyl; and carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid derivatives, wherein the carbapenemase produced by the carbapenemase-producing bacteria is KPC.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is of formula (II)

or tautomeric forms, stereoisomers, polymorphs, solvates, hydrates, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof,

wherein:

L=C or N;

R 1 represents a carboxylate anion or —COOR 4 , wherein R 4 represents hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 6 -C 10 arylC 1 -C 6 alkyl, methoxybenzyl, nitrobenzyl, silyl, diphenylmethyl, proxetil, axetil, cilexetil, pivoxil, hexetil, daloxate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt;

R 2 and R 3 may be same or different and independently represent hydrogen, halogen, amino, protected amino, optionally substituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl or C 2 -C 6 alkynyl;

R represents a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 2 -C 6 alkenyl, C 6 -C 10 aryl, C 6 -C 10 aryl C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 3 -C 12 cycloalkyl, oxo, heterocyclyl or heterocyclylalkyl;

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkylthio, C 1 -C 6 alkylamino, hydroxyl, halogen or trihalomethyl; and

m is 0, 1 or 2.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from:

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-ethyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-n-propyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-allyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium and the corresponding acid;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-(2-t-butoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium and the corresponding acid;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-(2-morpholin-4-yl-2-oxoethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium and the corresponding acid;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-{2[(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl}-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium and the corresponding acid;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-{2-[(3-ethoxy-3-oxopropyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl}-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium and the corresponding acid;

1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-(2-{[1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-hydroxypropyl]amino}-2-oxoethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium and the corresponding acid;

1-{[(2 S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium and the corresponding acid;

(2 S,3 S,5R)-3-Methyl-3-(3-methyl-imidazol-3-ium-1-ylmethyl)-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylate and the corresponding acid;

(2 S,3 S,5R)-3-Methyl-3-(4-methyl-3-methyl-imidazol-3-ium-1-ylmethyl)-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-aza-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-2-carboxylate or corresponding acids, tautomeric forms, stereoisomers, polymorphs, solvates, hydrates, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is, 1-{[(2S,3 S,5R)-2-Carboxy-3-methyl-4,4,7-trioxo-4-thia-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-yl]methyl}-3-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium or tautomeric forms, stereoisomers, polymorphs, solvates, hydrates, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.

5. A method of treating a carbapenemase-producing bacterial infection comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of formula (I) as defined according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, one or more antibiotics and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, thereby treating the carbapenemase-producing bacterial infection, wherein the carbapenemase produced by the carbapenemase-producing bacteria is KPC.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the antibiotics are β-lactam antibiotics.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the antibiotics are selected from the group consisting of Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbacephem, Oxacephem, Carbapenems, Cephamycins, Penems, Monobactams or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the penicillins are selected from the group consisting of Amdinocillin (Mecillinam), Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Amylpenicillin, Apalcillin, Aspoxicillin, Azidocillin, Azlocillin, Bacampicillin, Carbenicillin, Carindacillin, Clometocillin, Cloxacillin, Cyclacillin (Ciclacillin), Dicloxacillin, Epicillin, Fenbenicillin, Floxacillin (flucloxacillin), Hetacillin, Lenampicillin, Metampicillin, Methicillin, Mezlocillin, Nafcillin, Oxacillin, Penamecillin, Penethecillin, Penicillin G (Procaine Pencillin), Penicillin N, Penicillin O, Penicillin V (Phenoxymethyl Penicillin), Phenethicillin, Piperacillin, Pivampicillin, Propicillin, Quinacillin, Sulbenicillin, Talampicillin, Temocillin, Ticarcillin, Pivmecillinam, Benzathine Penicillin, Benzyl Penicillin, Co-amoxiclav and Lenampicillin.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cephalosporins are selected from the group consisting of Cephaloridin, Cephradine, Cefoxitin, Cephacetril, Cefinenoxime, Cephaloglycin, Cefonicid, Cefodizime, Cefpirome, Cefpiramide, Cefozopran, Cefoselis, Cefluprenam, Cefpimizole, Cefclidin, Cefpodoxime axetil, Cefteram pivoxil, Cefcapene pivoxil, Ceftobiprole, Ceftaroline, Cefoperazone, Cefquinome, Ceftiofur, Cefovecin, Cefadroxil, Cefalonium, Cefepime, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Cefetamet pivoxil, Cefditoren pivoxil, Cephaloridine, Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone, Cefbuperazone, Cephalothin, Cephazolin, Cephapirin, Ceftezole, Cefamandole, Cefotiam, Cefotiam hexetil, Cefuroxime, Ceftizoxime, Cefmenoxime, Cefuzonam, Cefsulodin, Cefmetazole, Cefminox, Cephalexin, Cefradine, Cefaclor, Cefadroxil, Cefalonium, Cefprozil, Cefuroxime axetil, Cefixime, Cefpodoxime proxetil, Ceftibuten, CXA-101(FR264205), and Cefdinir.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the carbapenems are selected from the group consisting of Meropenem, Ertapenem, Doripenem, Biapenem, Panipenem, Ritipenem, Tebipenem, Tomopenem, Sulopenem, Razupenem, Imipenem, ME1036 and SM216601.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the Monobactams are selected from the group consisting of Aztreonam, Carumonam, Tigemonam, BAL19764 and BAL30072.

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein the antibiotics are selected from the group consisting of Imipenem, Faropenem, Doripenem, Meropenem, Ertapenem, Aztreonam, Cefepime, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime, Ceftobiprole, Cefquinome, Ceftiofur, Cefadroxil and Cefalonium.

13. A method for detecting carbapenemases comprising administering a diagnostic reagent to a sample, wherein the diagnostic reagent comprises the compound of formula (I) as defined according to claim 1 , wherein the carbapenemases belong to the families of KPC.

14. The method of claim 5 , wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Penems, Carbacephem, Carbapenems, Oxacephem, Monobactams, Aminoglycosides, Bacteriocins, Quinolones, Sulfonamides, Macrolides, Tetracyclines, Glycylcyclines, Oxazolidinones, Lipopeptides, Polypeptides, Rifamycins, Chloramphenicol, Polyene antifungals and derivatives thereof.

15. A method for restoring and/or potentiating the activity of antibiotics in a subject by inhibiting carbapenemases produced by bacteria comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of formula (I) as defined according to claim 1 , or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a subject in need thereof, wherein the carbapenemases produced by the bacteria are KPC.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antibiotics are selected from the group consisting of Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Carbacephem, Oxacephem, Carbapenems, Cephamycins, Penems, Monobactams or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more antibiotics are administered separately from the compound of formula (I).

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbapenemase-producing bacteria are Gram-negative bacteria.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of patients with bacterial infections, preoperative patients, postoperative patients, patients in ICU, patients with nosocomial infections, patients with community acquired infections and veterinaries.