Mylan discontinues Zagam

Drug Store News, March 5, 2001

Mylan Laboratories is discontinuing the fluoroquinolone antibiotic Zagam (sparfloxacin), which is manufactured by Aventis. Mylan licensed Zagam from Rhone-Poulenc Rorer in 1998 prior to the latter company's merger with Hoechst to form Aventis. Zagam was approved in 1996.

Zagam is the fourth quinolone to be discontinued. Abbott's Omniflox and Glaxo's Raxar were withdrawn because of safety reasons; Pfizer's Trovan is available only under limited distribution. Safety issues concerning Zagam included some reports of QT prolongation and a 7.9 percent incidence of phototoxicity.