Peptide library / Immune & defense / Daptomycin
Daptomycin
A cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic from soil bacteria for serious skin and bloodstream infections.
Effects studied or claimed
What it is used or promoted for, and where each effect has actually been seen
- Complicated skin infectionsFDA approved
- Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infectionFDA approved
How it is thought to work
Daptomycin inserts into bacterial membranes and causes leakage of ions, killing the bacterium.
What the evidence shows
Trials showed non-inferiority to standard treatments for bloodstream infection and skin infection.
Safety and unknowns
Muscle damage means creatine kinase should be monitored. It is inactivated by lung surfactant and so is not used for pneumonia.
Regulatory status
FDA-approved as Cubicin in 2003.
Regulatory status changes quickly. This entry was last reviewed on 27 October 2026. Confirm current status with the FDA before relying on it.
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General information, not medical advice. Do not buy or inject unregulated peptides.