Norvancomycin is an analog of glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin. It was first found to be produced by a soil microorganisms such Nocardia orientalis and Amycolatopsis orientalis and recently was found in actinomycete Amycolatopsis orientalis CPCC200066. Norvancomycin can be derived by demethylation at N-terminus of vancomycin. It has significant inhibitory activity against Gram-positive cocci and bacilli. The mode of action of norvancomycin is based on its ability to bind to the cell-wall peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria terminating tripeptide -L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala. Similar to vancomycin in terms of antibacterial activity, spectrum and clinical efficacy norvancomycin has more potent antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and higher affinity for bacteria cell wall analogue DALAA than vancomycin. Norvancomycin has been widely used in China to treat endocarditis, osteomyelitis and other severe infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains). The adverse drug reactions of norvancomycin are like vancomycin, such as nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, rash and itching. Norvancomycin is not available therapeutically outside of China.