Farom was launched in Japan for use as an antibiotic against common
respiratory tract pathogens. It can be prepared by several related routes of about
seven steps starting with tetrahydrofuran-2-thiocarboxylic acid and a silylated
azetidinone. It is a broad spectrum oral penem antibiotic that is β-lactamase stable.
Farom is the most active β-lactam against anaerobes (more than cefaclor, cefixime
and amoxicillin) but also has activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and
enterobacteriaceae. It is equally active against strains carrying plasmid and
chromosome mediated β-lactamases. The short plasma elimination half-life is the
result of hydrolysis by renal dehydropeptidase. It is more stable to hydrolysis by
extended spectrum β-lactamases than some second and third generation
cephalosporins.
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Treatmentof bacterial infections.
Antimicrobial activity
An orally active penem with a broad spectrum of antibacterial
activity, including activity against selected anaerobic
pathogens. Although it is active against most enterobacteria, it has reduced activity against Ser. marcescens,
Enterobacter spp. and some Providencia spp. It generally
retains activity against many Gram-positive organisms,
but has no useful activity against Ps. aeruginosa. It has
reduced activity against E. faecium, methicillin-resistant
Staph. aureus (MRSA) and some strains of coagulase-negative
staphylococci. It is stable to hydrolysis by extended
spectrum β-lactamases, but is hydrolyzed by carbapenemases.
Esterified prodrugs with increased bioavailability
have been studied in clinical trials but have not received
regulatory approval.
