Cilastatin

Cilastatin is a chemical compound which inhibits the human enzyme dehydropeptidase.

Dehydropeptidase is found in the kidney and is responsible for degrading the antibiotic imipenem. Cilastatin is therefore combined intravenously with imipenem in order to protect it from dehydropeptidase and prolong its antibacterial effect. However, cilastatin in and of itself does not have any antibacterial activity.