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Bactroban (MUPIROCIN)
Bactroban works by inhibiting the production of essential proteins in bacteria, preventing them from reproducing and causing infection.
Bactroban (mupirocin) is a small molecule RNA synthetase inhibitor antibacterial developed by GlaxoSmithKline, targeting Isoleucine--tRNA ligase, cytoplasmic. It was FDA approved in 1987 for various skin infections, including impetigo, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization, and traumatic skin lesion infections. Bactroban is now off-patent with multiple generic manufacturers. As an antibacterial, it works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria, ultimately leading to cell death. It is used topically to treat skin infections.
At a glance
| Generic name | MUPIROCIN |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | GSK |
| Drug class | RNA Synthetase Inhibitor Antibacterial |
| Target | Isoleucine--tRNA ligase, cytoplasmic |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Immunology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 1987 |
Mechanism of action
Mupirocin is an antibacterial drug [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.4)].
Approved indications
- Impetigo
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Nasal Colonization
- Staph Aureus Traumatic Skin Lesion Infection
- Traumatic Skin Lesion Streptococcus Pyogenes Infection
Common side effects
- burning, stinging, or pain
- itching
- anaphylaxis
- urticaria
- angioedema
- generalized rash
Key clinical trials
- Effect of S. Aureus Skin Decolonization on Disease Severity in Atopic Dermatitis Patients (PHASE4)
- Staph Household Intervention for Eradication (SHINE) (PHASE4)
- STaph Aureus Resistance-Treat Early and Repeat (STAR-TER) (PHASE2)
- Bacterial Decolonization Plus Intraoperative Angiography for Soft Tissue Sarcomas Receiving Preoperative Radiotherapy (CONCERTO) (PHASE2)
- Effectiveness of Screening and Decolonization of S. Aureus to Prevent S. Aureus Surgical Site Infections in Surgery Outpatients
- Staph Intervention for Effective Local Defense (PHASE4)
- Bacterial Decolonization Within Dyads (NA)
- Project CLEAR - Changing Lives by Eradicating Antibiotic Resistance (NA)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Bactroban CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Bactroban updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- GSK portfolio CI