Valnemulin

Valnemulin	Last updated: 15/09/2025
(Not known by any other names)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A semi-synthetic pleuromutilin derivative antimicrobial veterinary drug

Examples of veterinary uses

Used to treat dysentery, ileitis, coliti pneumonia and intestinal infections

Examples of species treated

Pigs; Cattle; Rabbits

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

Approved - usuallyavialble as a prescription only medicine to be authorised by a veterinarian (POM-V)

EU Regulatory approval status

Approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Valnemulin exhibits stereoisomerism, specifically diastereomerism and enantiomerism, due to its multiple chiral centres embedded within its complex pleuromutilin-derived structure. The molecule contains a tricyclic core with several asymmetric carbon atoms, including those in the cyclopentane and cyclooctane rings, as well as in the side chains attached to the ester and thioether groups. These chiral centres give rise to distinct three-dimensional configurations, which can significantly influence the drug’s binding affinity to bacterial ribosomes, particularly the 50S subunit, where it inhibits protein synthesis.

Chemical formula

C₃₁H₅₂N₂O₅S

Canonical SMILES

CC1CCC23CCC(=O)C2C1(C(CC(C(C3C)O)(C)C=C)OC(=O)CSC(C)(C)CNC(=O)C(C(C)C)N)C

Isomeric SMILES

C[C@@H]1CCC23CCC(=O)[C@H]2C1([C@@H](C[C@@]([C@H]([C@@H]3C)O)(C)C=C)OC(=O)CSC(C)(C)CNC(=O)[C@@H](C(C)C)N)C

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

LLYYNOVSVPBRGV-FMWPFBIJSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C31H52N2O5S/c1-10-29(8)15-22(38-23(35)16-39-28(6,7)17-33-27(37)24(32)18(2)3)30(9)19(4)11-13-31(20(5)26(29)36)14-12-21(34)25(30)31/h10,18-20,22,24-26,36H,1,11-17,32H2,2-9H3,(H,33,37)/t19-,20+,22-,24-,25+,26+,29-,30+,31+/m1/s1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
valnemulin hydrochloride dihydrate	Varinant

General status

Veterinary substance type

Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Medicinal drug, Medicated feed additive

Substance groups

Pleuromutilin derivative

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Semi-synthetic

Mode of action

Protein synthesis inhibitor at the bacterial ribosome level

Molecular targets

[50S rRNA, Antagonist]

CAS RN

101312-92-9

EC number

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

9850878

Therapeutic Class

Antiinfectants for systemic use: Antibacterials for systemic use

ATCvet Code

QJ01XQ02

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Allowed substance (Table 1: Porcine, Rabbit)

Molecular mass

564.81

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

[(1S,2R,3S,4S,6R,7R,8R,14R)-4-ethenyl-3-hydroxy-2,4,7,14-tetramethyl-9-oxo-6-tricyclo[5.4.3.01,8]tetradecanyl] 2-[1-[[(2R)-2-amino-3-methylbutanoyl]amino]-2-methylpropan-2-yl]sulfanylacetate

CAS name

acetic acid, 2-[[2-[[(2R)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutyl]amino]-1,1-dimethylethyl]thio]-, (3aS,4R,5S,6S,8R,9R,9aR,10R)-6-ethenyldecahydro-5-hydroxy-4,6,9,10-tetramethyl-1-oxo-3a,9-propano-3aH-cyclopentacycloocten-8-yl ester

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

Off-white coloured solid

Related substances & organisms

tiamulin hydrogen fumarate

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1999, first introduced veterinary medicince

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Elanco GmbH

Example products using this active

Econor Oral Powder
Econor Premix Medicated Feed

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied as an oral solution or as a medicated premix feed

Commercial production

The production of valnemulin begins with the refinement of pleuromutilin, the core tricyclic antibiotic scaffold. This is first sulfonated using p-toluenesulfonyl chloride to activate the hydroxyl group, enabling a subsequent reaction with dimethylcysteamine hydrochloride, forming a thioether-linked intermediate. In parallel, D-valine is reacted with methyl acetoacetate and potassium hydroxide to produce a chiral amino acid derivative, which is then activated by ethyl chloroformate. This activated valine derivative is coupled with the pleuromutilin intermediate under controlled pH conditions to form valnemulin. The final steps involve reverse-phase extraction and freeze-drying, yielding high-purity valnemulin hydrochloride suitable for veterinary use.

Impact on climate of production and use

Published GHG data is not available for most pharmaceuticals. However, according to industry, global averages suggest producing 1 kg of a typical active pharmaceutical ingredient can range from 10 to 100 kg CO₂e for small molecule drugs and potentially up to 1000 kg CO₂e for complex biologicals such as vaccines, depending on the drug type, its formulation, complexity of synthesis, solvent recovery, and energy sources used.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Melting point (°C)

141

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

Log P

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Refractive Index

Environmental release

Substance may enter the environment via the faeces of treated animals or by leaching from spilt medicated feed.

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

Note

Manure DT₅₀ (days)

a: 49-590 days; b: 13-73 days

temp dependant a=slurry b=soil/slurry

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

Moderately mobile

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

316

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

CT₅₀ (days)

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 1000

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 1000

predicted

Low

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 28.2

Predicted

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

> 15

Seriola lalandi 28 day

Low

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

44.7

Daphnia magna

Moderate

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic Plants (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹) (EC₅₀)

> 2.3

Unknown species estimated

Moderate

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 1000

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Occupational

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Extensively metabolised, metabolites excreted in bile

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Liver toxicant
May cause weight loss

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

no information available

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

valnemulin

French

German

Danish

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Spanish

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	15/09/2025
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242