Streptogramin and Depsipeptide Antibiotics
18 compounds in this family, each with its recorded mechanism, routes of administration, safety notes and references to published literature.
- DactinomycinDactinomycin (also known as actinomycin D) is an intravenous, prescription‑only chemotherapeutic antibiotic belonging to the actinomycin/chromopeptide family. It is approved for use in cancer treatment, most notably as a component of the VAC (vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide) regimen for intermediate‑risk rhabdomyosarcoma in children. The drug is administered by infusion and has been studied in numerous oncology trials and reviews.
- DalfopristinDalfopristin is a cyclic depsipeptide antibiotic belonging to the streptogramin B class and is marketed in combination with quinupristin (Synercid). It is administered intravenously by prescription and is approved for treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible Gram‑positive bacteria, including resistant strains. The drug works together with quinupristin to achieve synergistic antibacterial activity.
- ElisidepsinElisidepsin (Irvalec®, PM02734) is an investigational synthetic cyclic depsipeptide derived from marine sources. It has been studied as a single agent and in combination with other chemotherapies for advanced solid tumours, including gastro‑oesophageal cancers. The drug is administered intravenously and is being evaluated for its ability to disrupt cancer cell membranes and induce tumour regression.
- GE-2270AGE-2270A (also known as MDL 62,879) is a naturally occurring thiopeptide antibiotic produced by Planobispora rosea. It exhibits potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), by targeting bacterial EF-Tu. It has not advanced to clinical approval, but has served as a scaffold for semi-synthetic derivatives such as LFF571 that have entered clinical investigation.
- LFF-571LFF-571 is an investigational, orally administered semisynthetic thiopeptide antibiotic derived from the streptogramin/depsipeptide family. It is being explored as a narrow‑spectrum agent for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), including recurrent disease, where current therapies show high relapse rates.
- OBP-801OBP-801 (also known as YM753 or Spiruchostatin B analogue) is an investigational cyclic depsipeptide that functions as a class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. It is being explored for cancer therapy, particularly in solid tumours such as myxofibrosarcoma and neuroblastoma, and for ophthalmic applications to reduce fibrosis after glaucoma filtration surgery. The compound is administered intravenously in clinical studies, while pre‑clinical ocular work used subconjunctival injection or eye‑drop formulations.
- PlitidepsinPlitidepsin (Aplidin®) is a marine‑derived cyclic depsipeptide approved in Australia for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. It is administered intravenously and has been investigated both as an anticancer agent and, more recently, as a host‑directed antiviral for SARS‑CoV‑2 infection.
- PM02734Elisidepsin (PM02734, Irvalec) is an investigational marine‑derived cyclic depsipeptide that disrupts cancer cell plasma membranes. It has been evaluated intravenously in early‑phase trials for a range of advanced solid tumours, including lung, colorectal, mesothelioma and gastro‑oesophageal cancers. The drug remains experimental and has not received regulatory approval for any indication.
- PristinamycinPristinamycin is an oral prescription antibiotic that belongs to the streptogramin class, a mixture of two synergistic components (group A macrolactone and group B cyclic depsipeptide). It is employed for infections caused by Gram‑positive bacteria that are resistant to many other drugs, including methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Mycoplasma genitalium, and has been examined for skin infections such as cellulitis and erysipelas. The drug is approved for human use and is taken by mouth.
- QuinupristinQuinupristin is a streptogramin B cyclic depsipeptide antibiotic that is administered intravenously, usually in combination with dalfopristin (Synercid). It is prescribed for serious infections caused by susceptible Gram‑positive bacteria, including strains resistant to other agents such as methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin‑resistant Enterococcus (VRE). The drug targets bacterial protein synthesis and is used when other options are limited.
- RomidepsinRomidepsin is a cyclic depsipeptide histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor approved for certain T‑cell lymphomas. Administered by intravenous infusion, it is used chiefly in relapsed or refractory peripheral T‑cell lymphoma (PTCL) and cutaneous T‑cell lymphoma, often in combination with other epigenetic or targeted agents to improve response rates.
- StallimycinStallimycin (also known as distamycin A) is a peptide‑derived minor‑groove DNA binder investigated primarily in pre‑clinical research. It has been examined for anticancer activity against leukemia cells, for selective inhibition of herpes simplex virus DNA synthesis, and, via computer modelling, as a potential inhibitor of the SARS‑CoV‑2 papain‑like protease. The compound is not approved for therapeutic use and remains a research‑only agent.
- ThiostreptonThiostrepton is a thiopeptide antibiotic approved for veterinary topical use against Gram‑positive bacteria. Research has explored its activity against malaria parasites, bacterial ribosomes, and, more recently, as a cancer‑targeting agent that inhibits the transcription factor FoxM1 and the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme PRX3. In a phase‑1 study, intrapleural thiostrepton achieved disease control in two‑thirds of participants at 12 weeks.
- ValinomycinValinomycin is a cyclic depsipeptide ionophore antibiotic originally isolated from Streptomyces species. In research settings it is employed primarily as a potassium‑selective ion carrier to manipulate membrane potentials, and it displays in‑vitro antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity against organisms such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma. The compound is not approved for therapeutic use and is investigated chiefly as a biochemical tool.
- VirginiamycinVirginiamycin is a mixture of two streptogramin antibiotics (type A and type B) that together inhibit bacterial protein synthesis. It is primarily employed as an oral growth‑promoting feed additive in food‑producing animals, and its potent activity against certain Gram‑positive pathogens has prompted investigation of its use in human medicine as a last‑resort antibiotic.
- Virginiamycin M1Virginiamycin M1 (also known as Ostreogrycin A, Pristinamycin IIA, or VM1) is a cyclic depsipeptide belonging to the streptogramin A class of antibiotics. It is approved for use as an oral feed additive in livestock, primarily to promote growth in pigs and poultry. The compound exerts antibacterial activity by targeting bacterial ribosomes, and its use in animal production is regulated to limit residues in food products.
- Virginiamycin S1Virginiamycin S1 is a streptogramin B peptide antibiotic approved for use in animal production and ethanol‑fuel fermentations. It is added to discourage growth of undesirable bacteria during ethanol production and may be employed as a feed additive for livestock. The compound is administered orally or by subcutaneous injection.
- Volpristin