The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Orbactiv (oritavancin), a new antibacterial drug to treat adults with skin infections.

Orbactiv is approved to treat patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by certain susceptible bacteria, includingStaphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains), various Streptococcus species and Enterococcus faecalis. Orbactiv is administered intravenously.

Orbactiv is the third new antibacterial drug approved by the FDA this year to treat ABSSSI. The agency approved Dalvance (dalbavancin) in May 2014 and Sivextro (tedizolid) in June 2014.

“The approval of several new antibacterial drugs this year demonstrates that we are making progress in increasing the availability of treatment options for patients and physicians,” said Edward Cox, M.D., M.P.H, director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “However, more work is needed in this area, and the FDA remains a committed partner to help promote the development of antibacterial drugs.”

For more details. go to: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm408475.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery