Daptomycin

FDA approved

Daptomycin (Cubicin) is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic approved by the FDA in 2003 for complicated skin infections and Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections, including MRSA.

At a glance

Where it acts: Immune & defense
Regulatory status: FDA approvedApproved by the U.S. FDA for at least one medical use.

Mechanism of Action

Daptomycin inserts its fatty tail into the bacterial cell membrane in a calcium-dependent way. This depolarizes the membrane and shuts down DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, killing the bacteria.

Typical Dosage (Research)

Prescription-only medicine. Dosing is set by a physician according to the FDA-approved label and the condition being treated.

Side Effects & Risks

Diarrhea, headache, rash, and raised creatine kinase (a marker of muscle damage).

Muscle damage (myopathy, rhabdomyolysis), eosinophilic pneumonia and peripheral neuropathy. Not effective for pneumonia because lung surfactant inactivates it.

Who Uses Daptomycin

Hospitalized adults and children with complicated skin infections or S. aureus bacteremia.