Pharmacokinetics of prulifloxacin. 3rd communication: metabolism in rats, dogs and monkeys.

The metabolism of the new quinolone antibacterial prodrug prulifloxacin ((+/-)-6-fluoro-1-methyl-7-[4-(5-methyl-2-oxo-1, 3-dioxolen-4-yl)methyl-1-piperazinyl]-4-oxo-4H-[1,3]thiazeto [3,2-a]quinoline-3-carboxylic acid. CAS 123447-62-1, NM441) in rats, dogs and monkeys was investigated after oral administration of 14C-NM441 or unlabeled NM441. 1. NM394 (which is the active metabolite of NM441), the NM394 acyl glucuronide, the ethylenediamino form, the diol form and the amino form were found in the urine of all three species, and the oxo form was detected in monkey urine only. 2. NM394 was the main metabolite in the urine of dogs and monkeys. 3. NM394 was the main metabolite in the plasma, urine and feces in rats and NM394 and its acyl glucuronide were the main biliary metabolites. 4. These results indicate that NM441 was transformed into a variety of metabolites, but that most of the drug administered was metabolized to NM394 by hydrolytic cleavage of the dioxelene ring.