Cephalexin, a new orally absorbed cephalosporin antibiotic.

A new antibiotic, structurally related to cephaloglycin, has been assigned the generic name cephalexin, 7-(D-alpha-amino-alpha-phenylacetamido)-3-methyl-3-cephem-5-carboxylic acid. In vitro antimicrobial activity of cephalexin does not equal that of cephaloglycin. However, excellent oral absorption and lack of serum binding of cephalexin compensates significantly for the lower in vitro activity. Exceptional efficacy against experimental bacterial infections in mice was obtained with cephalexin therapy as compared with cephaloglycin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol. The data suggest that cephalexin merits clinical trial.