Lexithromycin是一种早期的半合成红霉素，通过9-酮基与甲基肟的反应制得。结构变化改善了莱霉素的pH稳定性和疏水性，从而可以更好地在体内吸收。相同的原理用于罗红霉素可产生更大的效果，因此，莱索霉素很快被取代，并且尚未得到广泛的研究。像所有四环素一样，Lethromycin具有广谱的抗菌和抗原生动物活性，并通过与30S和50S核糖体亚基结合而起作用，从而阻止了蛋白质的合成。 Lexithromycin is an early semi-synthetic erythromycin, prepared by reaction of the 9-keto moiety to methyl oxime. The structural change improves the pH stability profile and hydrophobicity of lexithromycin for better in vivo absorption. This same rationale was used to greater effect with roxithromycin and, as a result, lexithromycin was quickly superseded and has not been not extensively studied. Like all tetracyclines, lexithromycin shows broad spectrum antibacterial and antiprotozoan activity and acts by binding to the 30S and 50S ribosomal sub-units, blocking protein synthesis.