Anti-MRSA Cephems: An Update

A review of recent developments in the field of anti-MRSA cephems is presented. The R.W. Johnson / Microcide collaboration seems to be the most advanced effort to date, but many other companies are continuing their efforts to develop a cephalosporin for use against serious Gram-positive infections such as MRSA. A detailed account of the progression of the MRSA cephem program at Bristol-Myers Squibb is provided. This work produced a number of compounds that had excellent biological activity, and were safe in a murine model of acute toxicity.