Macrolide: Brief history and timeline

Erythromycin was the first macrolide developed around 1950s and has been in human use since 1952
Erythromycin  was primarily used as an alternative to penicillin
Further macrolides were developed to improve the acid stability of erythromycin resulting in development of macrolides with differing spectrum and pharmacokinetic profiles

Subsequent macrolides

• Azithromycin
• Clarithromycin
• Roxithromycin
• Spiramycin