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Cephalexin

CHEMBL1200544 Phase 4 Approved Small molecule
Half-Life
0.5-1.2 hours
Bioavailability
—
Protein Binding
—
Molecular Weight
347.4 g/mol
LogP
0.6
Phase
4

A first-generation oral cephalosporin antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, used for skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and streptococcal pharyngitis. It is particularly effective against gram-positive organisms such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. It is generally well tolerated and widely used in community medicine.

Molecular Weight

347.3890 g/mol

LogP

0.60

TPSA

138.00 Ų

Lipinski RO5

Pass

Therapeutic Areas

Atopic Dermatitis Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Bladder Cancer Breast Cancer Chronic Kidney Disease Heart Failure Infectious Disease Leukemia Obesity Tuberculosis Type 2 Diabetes

Drug Classes

J — J - Antiinfectives for Systemic Use

Mechanism of Action

First-generation cephalosporin inhibiting cell wall synthesis.

Pharmacokinetics (PK)

Half-Life 0.5-1.2 hours

Pharmacodynamics (PD)

Mechanism

First-generation cephalosporin inhibiting cell wall synthesis.

2D Structure

SVG PNG

Cite this structure


                        

                            
                            
                        

                    

                


                
                

                    

                    

                        
Embed this structure

                        

                        

                            
                            
                        

                    

                

                

                
                

                    
SMILES

                    
CC1=C(C(=O)O)N2C(=O)[C@@H](NC(=O)[C@H](N)c3ccccc3)[C@H]2SC1.O

                

                

                
                

                    
InChI

                    
InChI=1S/C16H17N3O4S.H2O/c1-8-7-24-15-11(14(21)19(15)12(8)16(22)23)18-13(20)10(17)9-5-3-2-4-6-9;/h2-6,10-11,15H,7,17H2,1H3,(H,18,20)(H,22,23);1H2/t10-,11-,15-;/m1./s1

                

                

                

                    
                    

                        
Molecular Formula

                        
C16H17N3O4S

                    

                    
                    

                        
HBD / HBA

                        
3 / 6

                    

                    
                    

                        
Rotatable Bonds

                        
4

                    

                    
                    
                    

                        
Heavy Atoms

                        
24

                    

                    
                

            


            
            

                
                

                    
                    

                        

                            ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein)
                            Substrate
                        

                        
                        Primary Target
                        
                    

                    
                

                
            


            
            

                
                

                    
                    
                        

                            

  
  Minor


                            
                                Cephalexin + Ranitidine
                            
                        

                        
                        
Ranitidine may reduce the absorption rate of cephalexin by raising gastric pH, but overall bioavailability is not substantially altered, making this interaction clinically insignificant.

                        
                    
                    
                    
                        

                            

  
  Minor


                            
                                Cephalexin + Metformin
                            
                        

                        
                        
Cephalexin competes with metformin for renal tubular secretion via OCT2 and MATE transporters, which can modestly increase metformin plasma concentrations and its renal clearance.

                        
                    
                    
                    
                        

                            

  
  Moderate


                            
                                Cephalexin + Warfarin
                            
                        

                        
                        
Cephalexin may enhance the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, with case reports describing INR elevation during concurrent therapy, likely through disruption of vitamin K-producing gut flora.

                        
                    
                    
                

                
            


            
            

                
                


    
    
        
    
    
    
No side effects recorded

    
    
Side effect data is not yet available for this drug.

    



                
            


            
            
            

                
Frequently Asked Questions

                

                    
                    

                        
                        

                            
A first-generation oral cephalosporin antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, used for skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and streptococcal pharyngitis. It is particularly effective against gram-positive organisms such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. It is generally well tolerated and widely used in community medicine.

                        

                    

                    

                    

                    
                    

                        
                        

                            
First-generation cephalosporin inhibiting cell wall synthesis.

                        

                    

                    

                    
                    

                        
                        

                            
Key pharmacokinetic parameters for Cephalexin: Half-life: 0.5-1.2 hours.

                        

                    

                    

                    

                        
                        

                            
Yes, Cephalexin is an approved drug. It has reached clinical phase 4. It is classified as a Small molecule.

                        

                    

                

            

            

            
            

            
            
            

                
Related Drugs


                
                

                    
Same Drug Class

                    

                        
                        
                            Acyclovir
                            Small molecule
                        
                        
                        
                            Amoxicillin
                            Small molecule
                        
                        
                        
                            Azithromycin
                            Small molecule
                        
                        
                        
                            Ciprofloxacin
                            Small molecule
                        
                        
                    

                

                

                
                
                
            

            

            
            
{# References & Data Sources section for drug detail pages.
   Renders standard pharmacological database links plus the drug's data_sources field. #}


    
References & Data Sources

    
    
        
        
  • 
            
            
                ChEMBL — European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI).
                CHEMBL1200544.
                Open-access bioactivity database.
            
        
    • 
        
        
        
  • 
            
            
                PubChem — National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
                CID 27447.
                Chemical information database.
            
        
    • 
        
        
        
        
    

    
Data aggregated from publicly available pharmacological databases. Last updated 2026-03-04.




        


        
        
    


    



    
Medical Disclaimer

    

        This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making medication decisions.
    

    

        Data sources:
        ChEMBL,
        PubChem,
        DailyMed.