In English | En español
Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI Drug Dictionary


azithromycin 
An azalide, derived from erythromycin, and a member of a subclass of macrolide antibiotics with bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic activities. Azithromycin reversibly binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit of the 70S ribosome of sensitive microorganisms, thereby inhibiting the translocation step of protein synthesis, wherein a newly synthesized peptidyl tRNA molecule moves from the acceptor site on the ribosome to the peptidyl (donor) site, and consequently inhibiting RNA-dependent protein synthesis leading to cell growth inhibition and cell death. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
US brand names:AzaSite
Zithromax
Code names:CP 62993
XZ-450
Chemical structures:(2R,3S,4R,5R,8R,10R,11R,12S,13S,14R)-13-[(2,6-Dideoxy-3-C-methyl-3-O-methyl-alpha-L-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-2-ethyl-3,4,10-trihydroxy-3,5,6,8,10,12,14-heptamethyl-11-[(3,4,6-trideoxy-3-(dimethylamino)-beta-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl]oxy]-1-oxa-6-azacyclopentade
N-methyl-11-aza-10-deoxy-10-dihydroerythromycin A