Omadacycline: a novel aminomethylcycline

Tetracyclines have come a long way since they became available almost seven decades ago, with numerous enhancements allowing new agents to overcome bacterial mechanisms of resistance. However, these enhancements come with toxicities and pharmacokinetic disadvantages such as the gastrointestinal side-effects and poor oral bioavailability seen with the glycylcylcines. Omadacycline, a new and improved tetracycline, has demonstrated a broad spectrum of in vitro activity, has oral and intravenous formulations, improved safety compared to glycylcyclines, as well as clinical efficacy and safety for two types of infections: acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. This review will summarize salient points about its pharmacologic properties, available clinical efficacy, and safety data and omadacycline’s place in therapy.