Recent progress with oxazolidinone antibacterial agents

The oxazolidinone class of antibiotics represents a promising advance in the battle against multiply resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. Numerous companies have been involved in this area of research and Pharmacia has recently brought the first member of this class, linezolid (Zyvox(R)), to market for the treatment of sensitive and resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. During the last few years, advancements have been made by several firms in expanding oxazolidinone SAR as well as the spectrum of activity to include the fastidious Gram-negative organisms Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis.