Amphomycin

Summary

Amphomycin is a calcium-dependent lipodepsipeptide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces canus. It inhibits bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis by sequestering the lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate. It has primarily been studied as a research tool and topical antibiotic agent, and is structurally related to aspartocin and friulimicin. It has not achieved widespread clinical use.

Mechanism of Action

Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to undecaprenyl phosphate (C55-P), thereby blocking the lipid carrier required for peptidoglycan precursor translocation and preventing MurNAc-pentapeptide (Lipid I) formation.

Routes of Administration

Goals & Uses

• Gram-positive bacterial infection treatmentAntimicrobialLow
• Topical antibacterial applicationAntimicrobialLow
• Inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis (research tool)Research/mechanistic ProbeModerate

Contraindications

• Renal impairmentOrgan DysfunctionModerate
• Known hypersensitivity to amphomycin or related lipopeptidesAllergyHigh

Adverse Effects

• Hypersensitivity reactionsImmunologicUnknown
• Injection site reactionsLocalCommon
• NephrotoxicityRenalUnknown

Drug Interactions

• Nephrotoxic agents (e.g., aminoglycosides, NSAIDs)High

Population Constraints

• Pediatric patientsAgeRelative
• Pregnant womenReproductiveRelative
• Patients with pre-existing renal diseaseOrgan DysfunctionRelative

Regulatory Status

• European UnionUnapprovedNo EMA approval; research compound only.
• United StatesUnapprovedNot FDA-approved for any indication; used in research settings only.
• United KingdomUnapprovedNot approved by MHRA; research use only.

Amphomycin has not received FDA or EMA approval for systemic use. Some early topical formulations were explored but it remains largely a research compound. It is used as a reference compound in studies of lipid II pathway inhibitors.

Evidence & Sources

No sources recorded yet.