Recent progress with oxazolidinone antibacterial agents

The oxazolidinone class of antibiotics represents a promising advance in th e battle against multiply resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. Num erous companies have been involved in this area of research and Pharmacia h as recently brought the first member of this class, linezolid (Zyvox(R)), t o market for the treatment of sensitive and resistant Gram-positive bacteri al infections. During the last few years, advancements have been made by se veral firms in expanding oxazolidinone SAR as well as the spectrum of activ ity to include the fastidious Gram-negative organisms Haemophilus influenza e and Moraxella catarrhalis.