MRSA-Killer Tygacil Released by Wyeth

The US FDA has approved Wyeth Pharmaceutical's new antibiotic, Tygacil, for use in patients with serious bacterial infections, including MRSA and E. coli. The drug will be administered intravenously, and is effective enough against a number of bacterial type to be used prior to doctors' receiving lab results.

The new drug is from a class of medicines called glycylcyclines, which is related to the tetracycline class. The two are different enough, however, that Tygacil can be used to treat infections that are resistant to tetracycline, said Janice Soreth, director of the FDA's division of anti-infective drugs.

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