Struggling to find Daptomycin (Cubicin) in 2026? Learn why this critical antibiotic is hard to find and what you can do to locate it near you.
If your doctor has prescribed Daptomycin — sold under the brand name Cubicin or Cubicin RF — and you're struggling to get it filled, you're not alone. This powerful antibiotic has been in and out of shortage for several years, and patients dealing with serious infections like MRSA are often left scrambling to find a supply.
In this article, we'll break down exactly what Daptomycin is, why it's been difficult to find, and what steps you can take to get your prescription filled in 2026.
Daptomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic that fights serious infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. It's one of a limited number of drugs effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) — two types of bacteria that don't respond to many other antibiotics.
Daptomycin is FDA-approved for:
It's given as an intravenous (IV) infusion — meaning you receive it through a vein, usually in a hospital, infusion center, or through home infusion services. It is not available as a pill or oral medication.
For more details on how this drug works, check out our guide on how Daptomycin works.
There are several reasons why Daptomycin has become difficult to source. Understanding these factors can help you plan ahead and work with your healthcare team to secure your medication.
Like many injectable medications, Daptomycin relies on a complex manufacturing and distribution process. The raw materials needed to produce cyclic lipopeptide antibiotics are specialized, and disruptions at any point in the supply chain — from raw material shortages to shipping delays — can lead to reduced availability at pharmacies and hospitals.
While generic Daptomycin has been available since the brand-name Cubicin lost patent exclusivity, the number of companies actually producing it remains limited. When one or two manufacturers experience production issues, the entire market feels the squeeze. The FDA and ASHP have tracked intermittent Daptomycin shortages tied to manufacturing setbacks.
Antibiotic-resistant infections, particularly MRSA, continue to rise in the United States. As more patients require drugs like Daptomycin that can treat resistant bacteria, demand has grown faster than supply in some periods. This is especially true in hospital settings, where Daptomycin is a go-to option when Vancomycin fails or isn't tolerated.
Because Daptomycin is an IV-only medication, it's primarily stocked by hospitals and specialty or home infusion pharmacies — not your typical retail pharmacy. This means the drug may be available somewhere in your area, but finding the right pharmacy that carries it requires some extra effort.
If you're having trouble locating Daptomycin, here are some practical steps you can take:
Medfinder helps patients and providers find medications that are in short supply. You can search for Daptomycin and see which pharmacies near you have it in stock — saving you the frustration of calling around.
Since Daptomycin is an IV medication, specialty pharmacies and home infusion services are your best bet. Ask your infectious disease doctor or hospital pharmacist for referrals to infusion pharmacies in your area. These pharmacies are more likely to stock Daptomycin than a retail pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens.
If Daptomycin truly isn't available, your doctor may be able to prescribe an alternative antibiotic such as Vancomycin, Linezolid, or Oritavancin, depending on your specific infection and medical history.
Merck, the maker of brand-name Cubicin, offers a patient assistance program through merckhelps.com that may help you access the medication at reduced cost or locate available supply.
For more tips, see our full guide on how to find Daptomycin in stock near you.
Daptomycin is a critical antibiotic for treating some of the most dangerous bacterial infections. While supply issues can be stressful — especially when you're dealing with a serious infection — there are steps you can take to improve your chances of getting your prescription filled.
Stay in close communication with your healthcare team, explore specialty pharmacy options, and use tools like Medfinder to track real-time availability. If you're a provider looking for tools to help your patients, visit our provider shortage guide.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
Try Medfinder Concierge FreeMedfinder's mission is to ensure every patient gets access to the medications they need. We believe this begins with trustworthy information. Our core values guide everything we do, including the standards that shape the accuracy, transparency, and quality of our content. We’re committed to delivering information that’s evidence-based, regularly updated, and easy to understand. For more details on our editorial process, see here.
%2C%20Color%3DOriginal.png)
