Polymyxin B

Mechanism-of-action classes: Acid-Base Activity; Cholinergic Nicotinic Antagonists.

• Uses First aid to help prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes and burns

Directions Clean the affected area Apply a small amount of this product (an amount equal to the surface area of the tip of a finger) on the area 1 to 3 times daily May be covered with a sterile bandage.

For external use only.

• Jun 6, 1963NDANDA050023Harrow Eye
• Jul 19, 1963NDANDA050065Sandoz
• Jun 29, 1964ANDAANDA060716Hikma
• May 25, 1975NDANDA060613Casper Pharma Llc
• Aug 25, 1983ANDAANDA062423Sandoz
• May 22, 1984ANDAANDA062341Sandoz
• Nov 6, 1985ANDAANDA062488Sandoz
• May 11, 1988ANDAANDA062874Sandoz

1. 1Drug Ineffective54411%
2. 2Pain3757.8%
3. 3Drug Hypersensitivity3066.4%
4. 4Malaise3066.4%
5. 5Pneumonia3016.3%
6. 6Dyspnoea2966.1%
7. 7Off Label Use2775.8%
8. 8Vomiting2755.7%
9. 9Cough2244.7%
10. 10Nausea2204.6%
11. 11Chest Pain2094.3%
12. 12Diarrhoea2014.2%
13. 13Asthma1944.0%
14. 14Headache1893.9%
15. 15Macular Degeneration1883.9%

Recent PubMed references pinned to Polymyxin B as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

• Ceftibuten-polymyxin B combination alters resistance and cell wall gene expression in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.
  PloS one · 2026 · Sturaro MC, Silva RCCD, Simionatto S, et al.
  PMID 42247424DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0349583
• Marine Antimicrobial Peptide as a Promising Alternative to Polymyxin B.
  Marine drugs · 2026 · Safronova VN, Lushpa VA, Shipunova VO, et al.
  PMID 42188290DOI 10.3390/md24050154
• Comparative nephrotoxicity of polymyxin B versus colistin: evidence from ensemble learning and propensity score matching.
  The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy · 2026 · Özdede M, Balli Turhan FN, Geridönmez Ö, et al.
  PMID 42115839DOI 10.1093/jac/dkag044
• RENAsym, a quantitative systems toxicology platform model, designed to predict drug-induced kidney injury indicates polymyxin B and valproate overdose toxicity potential while simultaneously demonstrating acetaminophen and valproate safety at therapeutic levels.
  Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2026 · Vallejo C, Bhargava P, Hamzavi N, et al.
  PMID 42093084DOI 10.1093/toxsci/kfag047
• Synthesis and long-term antibacterial performance of nano-montmorillonite-loaded polymyxin B (NMMT@PMB) against Salmonella in an ex vivo study.
  Scientific reports · 2026 · Han Y, Yang X, Jia Y, et al.
  PMID 42062445DOI 10.1038/s41598-026-50425-1
• The GntR-family repressor PcrR acts as a gatekeeper for calcium-induced polymyxin B resistance and environmental adaptation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2026 · Xu XJ, Cui R, Wang ZL, et al.
  PMID 42033940DOI 10.1016/j.bbrc.2026.153837
• Population pharmacokinetics of polymyxin B in critically ill patients with multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
  International journal of antimicrobial agents · 2026 · Zamri PJ, Wölky SA, Hernandez-Mitre MP, et al.
  PMID 42025645DOI 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2026.107816
• Usnic acid chitosan-coated liposomes synergistic activity with polymyxin B against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii clinical in vitro.
  Future microbiology · 2026 · de Lacerda Coriolano D, Barbosa de Souza J, Vieira Maciel MA, et al.
  PMID 41944173DOI 10.1080/17460913.2026.2654380

The 10 most recently updated of 80 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Polymyxin B as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.

• A Single Centre, Open-label, 2-period Fixed-sequence, Phase I Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effect of BV100 on the Pharmacokinetics of Polymyxin B in Healthy Volunteers
  Recruiting · Phase 1 · Interventional · 16 enrolled · BioVersys SAS
  NCT07580586updated 2026-05-12
• Efficacy and Safety of BV100 Plus Low Dose Polymyxin B Versus Colistin Plus High-dose Ampicillin/Sulbactam in Patients With Hospital-acquired or Ventilator-associated Bacterial Pneumonia Due to Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii-calcoaceticus Complex
  Recruiting · Phase 3 · Interventional · 248 enrolled · BioVersys SAS
  NCT07326540updated 2026-05-04
• Sebum Metabolomics and Lipidomics for Clinical Applications
  Not yet recruiting · Interventional · 200 enrolled · National Taiwan University Hospital
  NCT07549828updated 2026-04-24
• Safety and Efficacy of Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion (PMX) for Endotoxemic Septic Shock in a Randomized, Open-Label Study
  Active not recruiting · Interventional · 150 enrolled · Spectral Diagnostics (US) Inc.
  NCT03901807updated 2026-04-03
• A Phase I Study Comparing the Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Renal Effects of VRP-034 and Marketed Polymyxin B in Healthy Volunteers
  Not yet recruiting · Phase 1 · Interventional · 48 enrolled · Venus Remedies Limited
  NCT07502144updated 2026-03-30
• Intracalvariosseous Plus Intravenous Antibiotics for Moderate-to-Severe Bacterial Meningitis
  Not yet recruiting · Interventional · 86 enrolled · yilong Wang
  NCT07495150updated 2026-03-27
• A Post-Marketing Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Polymyxin B and Colistin Methanesulfonate in Patients With Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infection
  Recruiting · Observational · 480 enrolled · TTY Biopharm
  NCT06966284updated 2026-03-09
• Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of BV100 Plus Low Dose Polymyxin B Plus Ceftazidime/Avibactam, or Plus Cefiderocol in Patients With Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Infections Due to Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii-calcoaceticus Complex
  Not yet recruiting · Phase 2 · Interventional · 120 enrolled · BioVersys AG
  NCT07431307updated 2026-02-24
• To Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of TQD3524 for Injection in Renal Impairment Subjects
  Completed · Phase 1 · Interventional · 48 enrolled · Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.
  NCT06522945updated 2026-01-09
• Different Methods of Aerosolized Polymyxin B Inhalation for Treating Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Pneumonia.
  Recruiting · Observational · 144 enrolled · Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
  NCT07086391updated 2025-07-25

Frequently asked questions

How does Polymyxin B work?

Mechanism-of-action classes: Acid-Base Activity; Cholinergic Nicotinic Antagonists.

What is Polymyxin B used for?

According to FDA labeling, Polymyxin B carries indications including: Uses First aid to help prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes and burns. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.

What class of drug is Polymyxin B?

Polymyxin B is classified as Antibiotics, Antiinfectives, Polymyxins, Polymyxin-class Antibacterial, Acid-Base Activity, Cholinergic Nicotinic Antagonists, Cellular Structure Alteration, Decreased Striated Muscle Contraction.

What are the brand names for Polymyxin B?

Polymyxin B is marketed under brand names including Bactine Antibiotic, Cortisporin, Cuadriderma, Lanabiotic, Maxitrol, Mycitracin Plus Pain Reliever, Neo-Polycin, Neo-Polycin HC.