In Vitro and In Vivo Activities of DS-2969b, a Novel GyrB Inhibitor, and Its Water-Soluble Prodrug, DS11960558, against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

DS-2969b is a novel GyrB inhibitor under clinical development. In this study, the activity of DS-2969b and the activities of DS-2969b and its water-soluble prodrug, DS11960558, against methicillin-resistant (MRSA) were evaluated. DS-2969b inhibited the supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase and the decatenation activity of its topoisomerase IV. DS-2969b showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive aerobes but not against Gram-negative aerobes, except for and DS-2969b was active against MRSA with an MIC of 0.25 μg/ml, which was 8-fold lower than that of linezolid. The presence of a pulmonary surfactant did not affect the MIC of DS-2969b. DS-2969b showed time-dependent slow killing against MRSA. The frequency of spontaneous resistance development was less than 6.2 × 10 in all four isolates at 4× MIC of DS-2969b. In a neutropenic MRSA-induced murine muscle infection model, DS-2969b was more efficacious than linezolid by both the subcutaneous and oral routes. DS-2969b and DS11960558 showed efficacy in a neutropenic murine MRSA lung infection model. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DS-2969b and DS11960558 against MRSA were characterized in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model; the percentage of time during the dosing period in which the free drug concentration exceeded the MIC ( ) correlated best with efficacy, and the static percent was 43 to 49%. A sufficient was observed in a phase 1 multiple-ascending-dose study of DS-2969b given orally at 400 mg once a day. These results suggest that DS11960558 and DS-2969b have potential for use as intravenous-to-oral step-down therapy for treating MRSA infections with a higher efficacy than linezolid.