Clindamycin phosphate is a a salt of clincamycin, a semi-synthetic lincosamide. The salt is prepared by selective phosphorylation of the 2-hydroxy moiety of the sugar of clindamycin. The introduction of the phosphate affords improved solubility for injectable formulations. Like other members of the lincosamide family, clindamycin 2-phosphate is a broad spectrum antibiotic with activity against anaerobic bacteria and protozoans.
Clindamycin acts by binding to the 23S ribosomal subunit, blocking protein synthesis.