Oritavancin is an glycopeptide antibiotic with bactericidal activity effective in treating infections caused by Gram-positive organisms. It treats complicated skin and skin structure infections. This drug demonstrates similar activity to vancomycin, but it has stronger activity against Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oritavancin appear to be favourable and once-daily dosing is likely. The incidence of multi-drug resistant bacteria is increasing and explorations into additional treatment options are essential. Oritavancin is marketed under the brand name Orbactiv. Orbactiv is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused or suspected to be caused by susceptible isolates of designated Gram-positive microorganisms. Oritavancin has the following mechanism of action: 1) Inhibition of the transglycosylation (polymerisation) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the stem peptide of peptidoglycan precursors 2) Inhibition of the transpeptidation (crosslinking) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the peptide bridging segments of the cell wall 3) Disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, leading to depolarisation, increased permeability and rapid cell death.

Dalbavancin is a second-generation lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that was designed to improve on the natural glycopeptides currently available, such as vancomycin and teicoplanin. Modifications from these older glycoprotein classes allowed a similar mechanism of action with increased activity and once weekly dosing. Its use is indicated for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by the following gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains), S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, and S. anginosus group (including S. anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus). Under the brand name DALVANCE Dalbavancin is indicated for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by designated susceptible strains of Gram-positive microorganisms. The bactericidal action of dalbavancin results primarily from inhibition of cell-wall biosynthesis. Specifically, dalbavancin prevents incorporation of N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)- and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG)-peptide subunits from being incorporated into the peptidoglycan matrix; which forms the major structural component of Gram-positive cell walls. The large hydrophilic molecule is able to form hydrogen bond interactions with the terminal D-alanyl-D-alanine moieties of the NAM/NAG-peptides, which is normally a five-point interaction. Binding of dalbavancin to the D-Ala-D-Ala prevents the incorporation of the NAM/NAG-peptide subunits into the peptidoglycan matrix. In addition, dalbavancin alters bacterial-cell-membrane permeability and RNA synthesis.