Tigecycline is a modified tetracycline (=“four rings”) antibiotic that inhibits the bacterial protein synthesis. It is easily recognisable due to its bright orange colour (tiger!).

It was developed in response to the growing rate of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, including multidrug-resistant strains such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Tigecycline was approved in the USA in 2005, in the European Union one year later.

It is administered intravenously and used to treat complicated skin and abdominal infections as well as community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.