Phase I study of DQ-2556, a new parenteral 3-quaternary ammonium cephalosporin antibiotic.

The safety and pharmacokinetic properties of DQ-2556, a new parenteral cephalosporin, were evaluated using healthy volunteers after 5-minute intravenous infusion of doses of 250, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg and a 1-hour infusion of 2000 mg, and an intramuscular dose of 500 mg. The half-lives of DQ-2556 ranged from 1.64 to 2.15 hours. The peak serum concentrations and area under the curve values were linearly correlated to the doses. The mean urinary recoveries were 80.0 to 85.5% of a dose within 24 hours. Salivary concentrations of the drug were low. There was no accumulation of DQ-2556 after 9 administrations every 12 hours. DQ-2556 was well tolerated.