Ceftobiprole Medocaril: A New Fifth-Generation Cephalosporin

The objective was to review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of intravenous ceftobiprole in the treatment of bloodstream infections, acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the following terms: ceftobiprole, ceftobiprole medocaril, ceftobiprole medocaril sodium, Zevtera, and BAL5788.

Articles published in English between January 1985 and August 15, 2024, related to pharmacology, safety, efficacy, and clinical trials were reviewed.

Ceftobiprole has shown similar efficacy to comparator antibiotics in CAP, ABSSSIs, and bloodstream infections. Overall treatment success in patients with bacteremia was 69.8% and 68.7%; 91.3% and 88.1% with ABSSSIs and 86.6% and 87.4% with CAP in ceftobiprole and comparator groups, respectively. Finally, in the management of HAP and VAP, ceftobiprole was inferior in the VAP population. Ceftobiprole had a favorable safety profile with gastrointestinal adverse effects occurring more frequently than comparators.Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice in Comparison to Existing Drugs:Clinicians have limited options to treat multidrug-resistant infections. Ceftobiprole has demonstrated efficacy against causative pathogens in specific infections including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), ABSSSI, and CAP and may be considered a viable alternative. However, ceftobiprole's impact on HAP, VAP, and febrile neutropenia needs to be further delineated.

Ceftobiprole's broad-spectrum activity makes it a viable option for treating patients hospitalized with CAP, ABSSSI, and SAB. Further studies are needed in severely ill HAP or VAP, febrile neutropenia, and pediatric patients.