Daptomycin: from the mountain to the clinic, with essential help from Francis Tally, MD

Clin Infect Dis. 2010 Jan 1:50 Suppl 1:S10-5. doi: 10.1086/647938.

Abstract

Daptomycin has been approved and successfully launched for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections caused by gram-positive pathogens [1] and bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus, including strains that are resistant to methicillin or other antibiotics [2]. The development of the drug, however, was not straightforward; it involved a cast of characters, including scientists at Eli Lilly and at Cubist Pharmaceuticals. Of most importance, the development of daptomycin involved the tenacious leadership of Dr. Francis Tally. As a tribute to Dr. Tally, we attempt to reconstruct the path of daptomycin from the mountain to the clinic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Daptomycin* / chemistry
  • Daptomycin* / pharmacology
  • Daptomycin* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Approval
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections / drug therapy
  • Soft Tissue Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Daptomycin