Mecillinam is a broad-spectrum β-lactam amidinopenicillin antibiotic belonging to the penicillin class. It was first described in 1972 by F Lund and L Tybring and was developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Leo Pharmaceutical Products (now LEO Pharma). The compound, a 6 β-amidinopenicillanic acid derivative was originally called FL 1060, is active against Gram-negative bacteria. β-lactams such as mecillinam can be used as genetic probes to uncover the mechanisms for bacterial cell wall production.
Mecillinam is slightly soluble in chloroform.
