Marbofloxacin is a synthetic bactericidal anti-infective, belonging to the fluoroquinolone group. It acts by inhibition of DNA gyrase. It is effective against a wide range of Gram positive bacteria (in particular Staphylococcus spp.), Gram negative (Escherichia Coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Campylobacter jejunii, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, Proteus spp, Shigella spp, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mannheumia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Klebsiella spp. Haemophilus spp, Moraxella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Brucella canis) as well as Mycoplasma.

After subcutaneous administration at the recommended dose of 2mg/kg to dogs and cats, marbofloxacin is rapidly absorbed with a bioavailability close to 100%. After subcutaneous administration of 2mg/kg in dogs and cats, the maximum plasma concentration achieved is 1.5 microgram/ml. IV administration results in a similar pharmacokinetic profile for Area Under the Time Curve (AUC) and Elimination (T1/2) values.

Marbofloxacin is weakly bound to plasma proteins (< 10% in dogs and cats) and is extensively distributed. In most tissues (skin, muscles, liver, kidney, lungs, bladder, digestive tract), tissue concentrations are higher than in plasma.

Marbofloxacin is slowly eliminated with an elimination half life from 10 to14 h in both species, mainly in the active form in urine (2/3), and faeces (1/3).