Birkhauser Macrolide Antibiotics (Milestones in Drug Therapy)

There are only very few chemical classes of antibiotics in medical use, and these have originated over a span of more than 60 years of research. Almost half a century ago, the first member of the macrolides, erythromycin, was introduced as a treatment option for bacterial infections. Erythromycin is a very complex fermentation product obtained from the soil bacterium Saccharopolyspora ery thraea (originally named Streptomyces erythreus). The success of erythromycin, based on its efficacy and tolerability, stimulated researchers throughout the world to undertake intense efforts to understand the biology and chemistry of macrolides and to use this experience to improve the properties of this compound class. The second generation of macrolides, based on chemical modifications of erythromy cin, is currently being in broad use, especially for treatment of respiratory tract infections. We presently foresee the introduction of a new generation of macro lides, i. e. the ketolides, which have the potential to overcome rising resistance problems. This monograph is intended to give the interested reader an overview on "macrolide experience", covering important areas from basic research to clinical use. Starting from a historic overview, the essential basic parameters - efficacy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacology - are highlighted in order to introduce the reader to the rationale for clinical use of macrolides. The following group of chapters cover the complex chemistry of the macro lactone structures, giving historic background, basic structure-activity relation ships of various derivatization strategies, and perspectives for future discovery of new semisynthetic macrolide antibiotics. From the Back Cover The current state of research, development, and use of macrolides as a treatment option for bacterial infections is the subject of this monograph. Macrolides, whose first representative (erythromycin) was introduced into the market in the 1950s, have been optimised by various companies into effective, safe, and convenient treatments with overwhelming success. Various compounds, such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, and roxithromycin, are in current effective use for treatment of infections mainly of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts and skin and soft tissues. A highly competitive research environment and critical medical need for improved macrolides have led to various new scaffolds and derivatives such as the ketolides ABT-773 and telithromycin, which are in development or in the regulatory process for market approval. The individual chapters cover aspects of microbiology, clinical use and experience, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, biochemistry, and chemistry. They are written by leading experts in their respective fields. Thus, readers - whether they are professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, physicians treating infections, or biochemists, chemists, pharmacologists or microbiologists at hospitals, health institutes, or universities - will find a detailed and up-to-date knowledge base about current research activities and a sound, stimulating overview of the compound class.