Cefotaxime is a third generation cephalosporin used to treat susceptible Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial infections. Like other third-generation cephalosporins, it has broad spectrum activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
The bactericidal activity of cefotaxime results from the inhibition of cell wall synthesis via affinity for penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Cefotaxime shows high affinity for penicillin-binding proteins in the cell wall including PBP Ib and PBP III.
- Primary indication
- Used to treat gonorrhoea, meningitis, and severe infections including infections of the kidney (pyelonephritis) and urinary system.Curator reviewed · 9 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C16H17N5O7S2 · 455.465 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1999 · United States, 1981
- Also known as
- Cephotaxime
- Code names
- CTX · HR 756 · RU 24662 · RU 24756
- Brand names
Resolves to
Clinical / RWD
Structure
InChIKey
GPRBEKHLDVQUJE-QSWIMTSFSA-NSMILES[H][C@]12SCC(COC(C)=O)=C(N1C(=O)[C@H]2NC(=O)C(=N/OC)\C1=CSC(N)=N1)C(O)=OTargets
What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
14Protein targetsEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological actionListed above
6TransportersSubstrate / inhibitor direction, not just membershipListed above
Which drugs share a target with Cefotaxime, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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