Cethromycin

Cethromycin (initially known as ABT-773) is a macrolide antibiotic undergoing research for the treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and for the prevention of post-exposure inhalational anthrax, and was given an “orphan drug” status for this indication.^[1] Originally discovered and developed by Abbott, it was acquired by Advanced Life Sciences Inc. for further development.

On April 10, 2008, Advanced Life Sciences announced that, based on a productive meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) in the third quarter of 2008 for cethromycin to treat mild-to-moderate community acquired pneumonia.^[2]