FDA Approves New Option for Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia

The FDA has approved Xenleta (lefamulin), an antibiotic available in both an oral and injectable form, for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adults.

The safety and efficacy of the antibiotic was evaluated in 2 clinical trials involving 1289 patients with CABP. Xenleta was compared with moxifloxacin with or without linezolid. Overall, those patients treated with Xenleta had similar rates of clinical success as those treated with moxifloxacin.

The most common adverse reactions reported with treatment were diarrhea, nausea, reactions at the injection site, elevated liver enzymes and vomiting. It also has the potential to cause prolonged QT interval on ECG readings.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

FDA approves new antibiotic to treat community-acquired bacterial pneumonia [press release]. August 19, 2019. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-antibiotic-treat-community-acquired-bacterial-pneumonia.