ABSTRACT
Faropenem (C12H15NO5S, MW 285.32) is a penem-class oral beta-lactam antimicrobial agent. Although faropenem is structurally similar to the carbapenems, it is distinguished by a sulfur atom at position 1. In Japan, faropenem has been available since 1997 as faropenem sodium hydrate (Farom) (C12H14NNaO5S ⋅ 21/2H2O; molecular weight, 352.34), whereas in the USA, faropenem medoxomil (also known as faropenem daloxate) (C17H19NO8S; molecular weight, 397.40), the ester prodrug of faropenem was evaluated in phase III clinical trials (Schurek et al., 2007; Gettig et al., 2008) but its approval was eventually rejected by FDA in 2006. Faropenem is notable because it is one of the few carbapenem-like agents that can be given orally.
