Macrocycle

Macrocycles are molecular structures that contain one or more rings of at least 12 atoms. As a chemical class suitable for drug development, macrocyclic compounds are said to combine the benefits of large biomolecules such as high potency and selectivity with the benefits of small molecules such as reasonable manufacturing costs, oral bioavailability, ease of administration and lack of immunogenicity. Macrocyclic natural products that have proven utility as therapeutic agents include vancomycin, amphotericin B, romidepsin and sirolimus.