The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical cure rate (ratio of clinically cured patients to the total number of patients) of ceftobiprole medocaril versus a comparator in the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Ceftobiprole medocaril is a cephalosporin antibiotic with anti-MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) activity. Ceftobiprole medocaril is not yet approved for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. This is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of ceftobiprole medocaril plus placebo versus a comparator to assess the effectiveness and safety of ceftobiprole medocaril in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. The patients will be randomized to ceftobiprole medocaril plus placebo or a comparator. Patients who meet specified criteria may be switched to an alternative oral treatment. The primary endpoint is that the clinical cure rate among patients treated with ceftobiprole at the test of cure visit. The patients will receive either ceftobiprole medocaril plus placebo or a comparator.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients suffering from community-acquired pneumonia severe enough to require hospitalization
• Female patients must be postmenopausal for at least 1 year, surgically sterile, or practicing an effective method of birth control before entry and throughout the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to any related antibiotic medications
• Treatment with any experimental drug within 30 days before enrollment
• Prior enrollment in this study or any study with ceftobiprole medocaril