MedPath

Rifaximin

Generic Name
Rifaximin
Brand Names
Xifaxan, Zaxine
Drug Type
Small Molecule
Chemical Formula
C43H51N3O11
CAS Number
80621-81-4
Unique Ingredient Identifier
L36O5T016N
Background

Rifaximin is a semisynthetic, rifamycin-based non-systemic antibiotic, meaning that the drug will not pass the gastrointestinal wall into the circulation as is common for other types of orally administered antibiotics. It has multiple indications and is used in treatment of traveller's diarrhea caused by E. coli; reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence; as well as diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) in adult women and men. It is marketed under the brand name Xifaxan by Salix Pharmaceuticals.

Indication

Rifaximin has multiple indications by the FDA: for the treatment of patients (≥12 years of age) with traveller's diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli; for the reduction of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in patients ≥18 years of age; and in May 2015 it was approved for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) treatment in adult men and women.

Associated Conditions
Bacterial Infections, Clostridium difficile infection recurrence, Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Traveler's Diarrhea
Clinical Trials
Related News

Sana Biotechnology Achieves Breakthrough in Type 1 Diabetes Treatment Without Immunosuppression

Sana Biotechnology has reported promising early trial results for type 1 diabetes treatment using allogeneic pancreatic islet cell transplantation without the need for immunosuppression. This groundbreaking development represents the first human evidence of successfully overcoming both allogeneic and autoimmune rejection in type 1 diabetes treatment.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals Gains FDA Approval for Alzheimer's and Oncology Treatments

• Amneal Pharmaceuticals has received FDA approval for memantine/donepezil extended-release capsules, indicated for moderate to severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type. • The FDA also approved Amneal's everolimus extended-release tablets for treating Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)-associated subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA). • Amneal was granted tentative approval for rifaximin oral tablets for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), pending resolution of ongoing litigation. • The approval of these therapies expands Amneal's portfolio and addresses critical needs in dementia, oncology, and gastrointestinal disease.

Medicare to Negotiate Single Price for Novo's Semaglutide Products Including Ozempic and Wegovy

• Medicare has selected semaglutide as one of 15 drugs for its second round of price negotiations, treating all formulations including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus as a single product. • The negotiations will establish a unified "maximum fair price" for all semaglutide products, impacting Novo Nordisk's medications that currently list at $998-$1,349 per month. • CMS's approach focuses on the drug's active moiety rather than individual brand names, aiming to prevent "product hopping" and ensure consistent pricing across different formulations.

Hepatic Encephalopathy: Emerging Therapies and Clinical Trials Highlighted

• Several companies are actively developing novel therapies for hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a neuropsychiatric condition resulting from advanced liver dysfunction. • Key players like Salix Pharmaceuticals and Vedanta Biosciences are advancing treatments such as Xifaxan and VE-303, showing promise in clinical trials. • Emerging therapies focus on innovative mechanisms like gut microbiota modulation and ammonia-lowering agents to improve patient outcomes. • Clinical trials are assessing various routes of administration and molecule types to address the unmet needs in HE treatment.

Xifaxan Monotherapy Shows Superiority to Lactulose in Reducing Hepatic Encephalopathy Recurrence

• Analysis of two randomized trials reveals that Xifaxan monotherapy is more effective than lactulose in reducing overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) recurrence and mortality. • New data highlights Xifaxan's impact on reducing rehospitalizations for OHE in both commercially insured and Medicare patient populations. • Plenvu's efficacy as a bowel preparation medication is confirmed in colonoscopy patients with comorbid conditions or those on medications affecting bowel prep quality.
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath
HomeTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy