Delafloxacin (BAXDELA® in the USA; Quofenix® in the EU) is an anionic fluoroquinolone antibacterial that is approved for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections in adults. Delafloxacin demonstrated in vitro activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including drug-resistant isolates. In a phase III trial in adults with CAP, delafloxacin was noninferior to moxifloxacin when assessed against FDA- and EMA-defined primary endpoints, with both fluoroquinolones achieving high treatment success rates. A prespecified subgroup analysis suggested that delafloxacin may be more efficacious than moxifloxacin in patients with a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Delafloxacin was generally well tolerated in patients with CAP, with most treatment-emergent adverse events graded as mild or moderate in severity. Fluoroquinolone-associated adverse events of special interest occurred infrequently, with no events of QT prolongation or phototoxicity reported with delafloxacin. Delafloxacin is an effective and generally well-tolerated treatment that increases the number of available treatments for CAP and, although further research is required, may be a useful option for patients with CAP and comorbid asthma or COPD.
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