SA09-Cu is a potent, noncompetitive inhibitor of NDM-1, with an IC50 of 9.6 nM. It inactivates NDM-1 by oxidizing the enzyme's Zn(II)-thiolate site and resists reduction by bacterial intracellular thiols. SA09-Cu effectively restores Meropenem efficacy against various clinical NDM-1-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and hampers the progression of carbapenem resistance [1].

SA09-Cu, at a concentration of 40 μg/mL administered over 24 hours, maintained the viability of Vero E6 and L929 mouse cells above 60% [1]. Furthermore, SA09-Cu displayed a dose-dependent inhibition of NDM-1 activity in viable cells (E. coli-BL21-NDM-1 and EC23) at concentrations ranging from 2 to 16 μg/mL over a 24-hour period [1]. However, SA09-Cu exhibited negligible or only slight antibacterial activity on its own (MIC≥64 μg/mL) [1].