Rifaximin is a rifamycin-based non-systemic antibiotic used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bacterial infections, such as traveler's diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, and reduction of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in adults. Rifaximin is a semisynthetic, rifamycin-based non-systemic antibiotic, meaning that the drug will not pass the gastrointestinal wall into the circulation as is common for other types of orally administered antibiotics.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Rifaximin acts by inhibiting RNA synthesis in susceptible bacteria by binding to the beta-subunit of bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-dependent ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase enzyme. This binding blocks translocation, which stops transcription.
- Primary indication
- Rifaximin has multiple indications by the FDA: for the treatment of patients (≥12 years of age) with traveller's diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli; for the reduction of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in...Curator reviewed · 6 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C43H51N3O11 · 785.8785 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2013 · United States, 2004
- Also known as
- Rifaxidin
- Brand names
Resolves to
NZCRJKRKKOLAOJ-XRCRFVBUSA-NSMILESCO[C@H]1\C=C\O[C@@]2(C)OC3=C(C)C(O)=C4C(O)=C(NC(=O)\C(C)=C/C=C/[C@H](C)[C@H](O)[C@@H](C)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](C)[C@H](OC(C)=O)[C@@H]1C)C1=C(N=C5C=C(C)C=CN15)C4=C3C2=OWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Rifaximin, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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