The pharmacokinetics of fleroxacin after oral administration of 400 mg fleroxacin in twelve healthy volunteers were investigated. All drug analysis was carried out by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic analysis was done by non-compartmental methods. We found that fleroxacin achieves high plasma levels of 5.2 +/- 1.1 mg/l after 1.2 +/- 0.7 h. The high AUC-value of 60.4 +/- 8.4 mg.h/l is the result of complete absorption and the long half-life of 10.8 +/- 1.6 h. The total, renal and non-renal clearance of fleroxacin were 107.9 +/- 15.1, 67.6 +/- 11.8 and 40.3 +/- 14.5 ml/min respectively. The volume of distribution Vd beta/F was 101.4 +/- 21.9 or 1.32 +/- 0.28 l/kg. Fleroxacin penetrated well into saliva (66%), nasal secretions (223%), tears (69%) and sweat (43%). On the basis of these findings once a day administration deserves consideration in the further clinical development of fleroxacin.