title: Daptomycin: a new drug class for the treatment of Gram-positive infections.
abstract: Daptomycin is the first member of a new class of bactericidal antibiotics, the cyclic lipopeptides. In September 2003, daptomycin was approved for the treatment of Gram-positive infections associated with complicated skin and skin structure infections. A key feature of daptomycin is its rapid, concentration-dependent bactericidal activity against significant Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, glycopeptide-intermediate and -resistant S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium (VRE). Daptomycin also has a unique mechanism of action, no cross-resistance with any other class of antibiotic and a relatively prolonged concentration-dependent postantibiotic effect in vitro. In the United States, daptomycin has been approved for use at a dose of 4 mg/ kg once daily in the treatment of S. aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains), three beta-hemolytic streptococci (S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae and S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis) and E. faecalis associated with complicated skin and skin structure infections. In addition, daptomycin is undergoing a phase III evaluation for the treatment of bacteremia and endocarditis due to S. aureus. With its once-daily dosing, favorable safety profile and low potential for resistance, daptomycin is a powerful new antibiotic therapy against Gram-positive infections.
authors.affiliation: Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, USA. jalder@cubist.com
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Alder
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019540:Area Under Curve; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D017576:Daptomycin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017576:Daptomycin