[Metacycline, its chemotherapeutic activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics]

Methacycline prepared at the All-Union Research Institute of Antibiotics was characterized by high activity against staphylococci and gramnegative bacteria. A somewhat higher antistaphylococcal activity of methacycline as compared to oxytetracycline was found. The concentrations of methacycline in the kidneys, liver and lungs corresponded to its levels in the blood and were 3 times higher than those of oxytetracycline administered in close doses. Methacycline was characterized by a higher chemotherapeutic activity as compared to oxytetracycline in the treatment of staphylococcal pneumonia. The values of CD50 of methacycline were 1.5 times lower than those of oxytetracycline.