Surotomycin

Surotomycin

Surotomycin is an investigational antibiotic that was under development by Cubist Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Merck & Co.. It is a cyclic lipopeptide that was being developed for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). However, the development of Surotomycin was discontinued in 2016 after it failed to show superiority over vancomycin in Phase III clinical trials.

History

Surotomycin was first synthesized by Cubist Pharmaceuticals, a company known for its focus on research and development of antibiotics to treat serious infections. The development of Surotomycin was part of the company's efforts to combat the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

In 2014, Cubist Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Merck & Co., a multinational pharmaceutical company. Following the acquisition, the development of Surotomycin continued under the new ownership.

Mechanism of Action

Surotomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide, a class of antibiotics that work by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane. It is bactericidal, meaning it kills bacteria rather than merely inhibiting their growth. Surotomycin specifically targets Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and life-threatening inflammation of the colon.

Clinical Trials

Surotomycin underwent Phase I, II, and III clinical trials. The Phase III trials, however, did not show Surotomycin to be superior to vancomycin, a currently used treatment for CDI. As a result, Merck & Co. decided to discontinue the development of Surotomycin in 2016.

Future

Despite the discontinuation of Surotomycin, research into new treatments for CDI continues. The failure of Surotomycin underscores the challenges of developing new antibiotics and the importance of ongoing research in this area.