
How Powerful is Ceftobiprole Medocaril Sodium Against Drug-Resistant Pathogens?

Zevtera® (ceftobiprole medocaril sodium) is a fifth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic developed by Basilea Pharmaceutica.
Approved by the U.S. FDA in April 2024, Zevtera offers a potent treatment option against a range of serious bacterial infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant organisms like MRSA.
💉 What Is Ceftobiprole Medocaril Sodium?
Ceftobiprole Medocaril Sodium is an intravenous antibiotic designed to treat severe bacterial infections.
Its active component, ceftobiprole, exhibits rapid bactericidal activity against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, notably methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
✅ FDA-Approved Indications
Ceftobiprole Medocaril Sodium is approved for the treatment of:
- Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SAB): Including right-sided infective endocarditis.
- Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI): Caused by susceptible Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.
- Community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP): In adults and pediatric patients aged 3 months to less than 18 years.
⚙️ Mechanism of Action
Ceftobiprole functions by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), essential enzymes for bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Notably, it has a high affinity for PBP2a, which confers resistance in MRSA strains, and maintains activity against various resistant bacteria.
📊 Clinical Efficacy
The FDA’s approval was based on data from three phase 3 clinical trials:
- ERADICATE: Evaluated efficacy in SAB.
- TARGET: Assessed treatment of ABSSSI.
- CABP Study: Focused on community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in both adults and children.
These studies demonstrated Zevtera’s effectiveness in treating the specified infections, with comparable or superior outcomes to existing therapies.
💊 Dosage and Administration
Adults
- SAB: 667 mg every 6 hours on Days 1–8; then every 8 hours from Day 9.
- ABSSSI and CABP: 667 mg every 8 hours.
Pediatric Patients (3 months to <18 years)
Dosage varies based on age and weight. For example, patients aged 12 to less than 18 years receive 13.3 mg/kg (up to 667 mg) every 8 hours.
Each dose is administered as a 2-hour intravenous infusion.
⚠️ Safety and Precautions
Common Adverse Reactions:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Injection site reactions
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Rash
- Vomiting
- Taste disturbances
Warnings:
- Not approved for ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) due to increased mortality observed in unapproved uses.
- Potential for hypersensitivity reactions; discontinue if they occur.
- Risk of seizures and other central nervous system reactions.
- Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea has been reported.
🌐 Global Availability
Beyond the United States, Ceftobiprole Medocaril Sodium is marketed under the names Zevtera and Mabelio in several countries, including major European nations, Argentina, and Canada.
Basilea has established licensing and distribution agreements covering over 80 countries.
🔬 Research and Development
Zevtera’s development was supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which contributed approximately $112 million, covering about 75% of the costs related to phase 3 studies and regulatory activities.
🧭 Conclusion
Ceftobiprole Medocaril Sodium represents a significant advancement in the treatment of serious bacterial infections, particularly those caused by resistant strains like MRSA.
Its broad-spectrum activity, efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials, and approval for both adult and pediatric use make it a valuable addition to the antimicrobial arsenal.
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