Skip to content
AMR Drug RepurposingSmart Screeningresearch prototype

Cephalexin

FDA-approved product (capsule, oral), marketed as Cephalexin, Keflet, Keflex and 2 more.

Registered studies
50+
Lab records
9
Pathogens at ≥40%
3 of 4

Chemical structure

Chemical structure of Cephalexin
A drawing shows what the molecule is, not what it does.

Existing / approved use

Documented · FDA, WHO, ChEMBL

Approved for

  • Bacterial disease
  • Infection
  • Otitis media
  • Prostatitis
  • Respiratory tract infectious disorder
  • Sprain

Indications ChEMBL records as approved, from FDA and DailyMed labels. Label ↗

WHO therapeutic group
First-generation cephalosporins
Anti-infective classification
Classified as an existing antimicrobial.WHO ATC J01DB01

Repurposing investigation

Cephalexin is already an antimicrobial, so it is not counted among the repurposing candidates. Its AI-predicted activity is shown below for reference.

AI-predicted activity

AI prediction · nothing measured
  • MRSA97.7% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.
  • E. coli84.3% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.
  • K. pneumoniae84.6% AI-predicted activityAt or above the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates. This medicine was in the model's training data, so this is recall, not a new prediction.
  • M. tuberculosis32.3% AI-predicted activityBelow the ≥40% mark this site uses to surface candidates.

A model’s estimate of laboratory activity against each pathogen species. It is not clinical effectiveness.

Evidence

Clinical and experimental

Documented evidence

Clinical

50+registered studies name this medicine, for any condition. The registry search keeps the first 50, so there may be more. See them below.

Experimental

  • MRSA: measured active in 4 of 7 lab records
  • E. coli: measured active in 1 of 1 lab record
  • K. pneumoniae: measured active in 1 of 1 lab record
Open Cephalexin in ChEMBL Registered studies below
Show the 9 laboratory records, with sources

Loading records…

“Active” means the measured value reached this project’s laboratory cutoff (10 µM or stronger). A laboratory result does not show an effect in patients.

Docking

Computational · nothing measured

Dihydrofolate reductase ↗ (E. coli)

-6.6 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

KPC-2 carbapenemase ↗ (K. pneumoniae)

-8.6 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

Enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) ↗ (M. tuberculosis)

-8.6 kcal/mol

0better fit →-12

Dihydrofolate reductase ↗ (MRSA)

Not yet docked: queued in the docking rundetails

AutoDock Vina, one experimentally solved protein per pathogen. This project’s screening target is -7.0 kcal/mol, its own mark rather than a universal cutoff. A docking score is a structural hypothesis, not proof of binding, and requires experimental validation.

Other medicines to investigate

AI prediction · nothing measured

Other repurposing candidates: approved medicines besides Cephalexin with AI-predicted activity ≥40% against the chosen pathogen, leaving out existing antimicrobials. They are computational candidates for further investigation, not alternatives and not recommendations.

Sorted by AI-predicted activity, high to low. The order is not a ranking of which medicine is better.

Registered studies

A registration describes a study; it does not establish a positive result.

  • Cross-over Study to Prove Bioequivalence Between Two Brands of Cefalexin Suspension

    NCT01073540 · start 2009-09

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT01073540
    Conditions
    Anti-Infective Agents
    Interventions
    Cephalexin suspension (Optocef, BAYO5448); Cephalexin suspension (Keflex)
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 1
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2009-09
    Completion
    2009-09
    Enrolment
    26

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionAnti-Infective Agents
    InterventionCephalexin suspension (Optocef, BAYO5448); Cephalexin suspension (Keflex)
    PhasePhase 1
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Moxifloxacin Versus Ceftriaxone in the Treatment of Primary Pyogenic Liver Abscess

    NCT00895089 · start 2009-05

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00895089
    Conditions
    Liver Abscess
    Interventions
    Moxifloxacin (Avelox); ceftriaxone
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 4
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2009-05
    Completion
    2011-12
    Enrolment
    24

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionLiver Abscess
    InterventionMoxifloxacin (Avelox); ceftriaxone
    PhasePhase 4
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Placebo Controlled Study of Antibiotic Treatment of Soft Tissue Infection

    NCT00187759 · start 2004-11

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00187759
    Conditions
    Soft Tissue Infections
    Interventions
    cephalexin
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Not applicable
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2004-11
    Completion
    2005-03
    Enrolment
    500

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionSoft Tissue Infections
    Interventioncephalexin
    PhaseNot applicable
    Registry statusCompleted

  • Cefadroxil 500 mg Capsules in Normal Healthy Non-Smoking Male and Female Subjects.

    NCT00835081 · start 2004-09

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00835081
    Conditions
    Healthy
    Interventions
    Cefadroxil 500 mg Capsules; DURICEF® capsules 500 mg
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 1
    Registry status
    Completed
    Start
    2004-09
    Completion
    2004-10
    Enrolment
    26

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionHealthy
    InterventionCefadroxil 500 mg Capsules; DURICEF® capsules 500 mg
    PhasePhase 1
    Registry statusCompleted

  • S9809, Ciprofloxacin Compared With Cephalexin in Treating Patients With Bladder Cancer

    NCT00003824 · start 1999-04

    Registered record
    Registry ID
    NCT00003824
    Conditions
    Bladder Cancer
    Interventions
    cephalexin; surgical procedure; Ciprofloxacin
    Study type
    INTERVENTIONAL
    Phase
    Phase 3
    Registry status
    Terminated
    Start
    1999-04
    Completion
    2007-01
    Enrolment
    114

    As stored from ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration describes a study; it does not mean the study worked.

    ConditionBladder Cancer
    Interventioncephalexin; surgical procedure; Ciprofloxacin
    PhasePhase 3
    Registry statusTerminated