NCIt definition : The cephem double ester prodrug of cefcanel, a semisynthetic third-generation cephalosporin
with antibacterial activity. Cefcanel daloxate is hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen
and in the gut wall by esterases to form the active metabolite cefcanel. Cefcanel
binds to and inactivates penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) located on the inner membrane
of the bacterial cell wall. PBPs are enzymes involved in the terminal stages of assembling
the bacterial cell wall and in reshaping the cell wall during growth and division.
Inactivation of PBPs interferes with the cross-linkage of peptidoglycan chains necessary
for bacterial cell wall strength and rigidity. This results in the weakening of the
bacterial cell wall and causes cell lysis.;