Novel Antibiotic Shows Promise for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
By Amy Orciari Herman
Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, andAndré Sofair, MD, MPH
Oral solithromycin is non inferior to moxifloxacin for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, according to an industry-funded, phase 3 trial published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases. Solithromycin is an experimental, fourth-generation macrolide with activity against macrolide-resistant pneumococci.
Some 860 adults in North America, Latin America, Europe, and South Africa with radiographically confirmed, acute pneumonia were randomized to receive oral solithromycin (once daily for 5 days) or moxifloxacin (once daily for 7 days).Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were the most commonly identified pathogens.
The rate of the primary outcome — clinical response at 72 hours after the first dose — was nearly identical in the two groups (roughly 78%). In addition, rates of adverse events and death did not differ between the groups.
The authors conclude that solithromycin has "the potential to restore macrolide monotherapy" for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.
By Amy Orciari Herman
Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, andAndré Sofair, MD, MPH
Oral solithromycin is non inferior to moxifloxacin for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, according to an industry-funded, phase 3 trial published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases. Solithromycin is an experimental, fourth-generation macrolide with activity against macrolide-resistant pneumococci.
Some 860 adults in North America, Latin America, Europe, and South Africa with radiographically confirmed, acute pneumonia were randomized to receive oral solithromycin (once daily for 5 days) or moxifloxacin (once daily for 7 days).Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were the most commonly identified pathogens.
The rate of the primary outcome — clinical response at 72 hours after the first dose — was nearly identical in the two groups (roughly 78%). In addition, rates of adverse events and death did not differ between the groups.
The authors conclude that solithromycin has "the potential to restore macrolide monotherapy" for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.
