Biological activity of Sch 14342, an aminoglycoside antibiotic coproduced in the gentamicin fermentation

Sch 14342 is an Aminoglycoside antibiotic coproduced as a minor component in the gentamicin fermentation. Sch 14342 was found to have the same Antibacterial spectrum as gentamicin in vitro and in vivo, and was approximately one-third as active in mouse protection tests. Sch 14342 relative to gentamicin was one-third as toxic in acute tests in mice, one-eighth as toxic in renal toxicity tests in dogs, and an estimated one-tenth as toxic in cat ataxia tests. Sch 14342 possesses a significantly improved therapeutic index relative to gentamicin with reference to ataxia potential and renal toxicity.