Delafloxacin, a non-zwitterionic fluoroquinolone in Phase III of clinical development: evaluation of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy.

Delafloxacin is a fluoroquinolone lacking a basic substituent in position 7. It shows MICs remarkably low against Gram-positive organisms and anaerobes and similar to those of ciprofloxacin against Gram-negative bacteria. It remains active against most fluoroquinolone-resistant strains, except enterococci. Its potency is further increased in acidic environments (found in many infection sites). Delafloxacin is active on staphylococci growing intracellularly or in biofilms. It is currently evaluated as an intravenous and intravenous/oral stepdown therapy in Phase III trials for the treatment of complicated skin/skin structure infections. It was also granted as Qualified Infectious Disease Product for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, due to its high activity on pneumococci and atypical pathogens.