Vancomycin

DB00512ApprovedInvestigationalSmall moleculeGlycopeptide Antibacterials

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic used to treat severe but susceptible bacterial infections such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections. Antibacterial obtained from Streptomyces orientalis.

Mechanism: The bactericidal action of vancomycin results primarily from inhibition of cell-wall biosynthesis. Specifically, vancomycin prevents incorporation of N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)- and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)-peptide subunits from being incorporated into the peptidoglycan matrix, which forms the major structural component of Gram-positive cell walls. Vancomycin forms hydrogen bonds with the terminal D-alanyl-D-alanine moieties of the NAM/NAG-peptides, preventing the incorporation of the NAM/NAG-peptide subunits into the peptidoglycan matrix. In addition, vancomycin alters bacterial-cell-membrane permeability and RNA synthesis. There is no cross-resistance between vancomycin and other antibiotics. Vancomycin is not active in vitro against gram-negative bacilli, mycobacteria, or fungi.
Curator reviewed
Primary indication: Administered intravenously, vancomycin is indicated in adult and pediatric patients for the treatment of septicemia, infective endocarditis, skin and skin structure infections, bone infections, and lower respiratory tract infections.Curator reviewed · 4 structured indications
Formula / weight: C₆₆H₇₅Cl₂N₉O₂₄ · 1449.254 g/mol (avg)
First approval: Canada, 2000 · United States, 1958
Brand names: Firvanq
Tyzavan
Vancocin

Resolves to

Compound

UNII6Q205EH1VUCAS1404-90-6ChEMBLCHEMBL262777ChEBI28001PubChem14969KEGGD00212

Clinical / RWD

RxNorm11124ATCA07AA09ATCJ01XA01ATCS01AA28PharmGKBPA451850

Structure

InChIKeyMYPYJXKWCTUITO-LYRMYLQWSA-NSMILES

CN[C@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H]1[C@H](O)C2=CC=C(OC3=C(O[C@@H]4O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]4O[C@H]4C[C@](C)(N)[C@H](O)[C@H](C)O4)C4=CC(=C3)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](CC(N)=O)NC1=O)C(=O)N[C@@H]1C3=CC(=C(O)C=C3)C3=C(O)C=C(O)C=C3[C@H](NC(=O)[C@@H](NC1=O)[C@H](O)C1=CC(Cl)=C(O4)C=C1)C(O)=O)C(Cl)=C2

What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026

1Protein targetEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological action

Listed above

1,203Drug interactionsStructured to mechanism, not free text

435Clinical trialsPhase, status and sponsor resolved per trial

4Structured indicationsCondition, population, route and combination as fields, not prose

508Marketed productsAcross 10 countries and 145 labellers

3ATC codesIncluding every combination product, plus 22 drug categories

17+ReferencesStructured and connected to the statements they support

Which other approved drugs treat the same conditions as Vancomycin, and which companies have late-stage candidates in those indications?

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