Marbofloxacin

Marbofloxacin	Last updated: 16/09/2025
(Not known by any other names)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic veterinary drug

Examples of veterinary uses

Used to treat infections of the skin, respiratory system, urinary tract and mammary glands, as well as those of the urinary tract

Examples of species treated

Dogs; Cats; Cattle

Approval status

VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)

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

EU Regulatory approval status

Approved

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Marbofloxacin does not exhibit traditional isomerism such as optical or geometric isomerism in its pure molecular form, as it lacks chiral centres. However, when formulated with coformers like butenedioic acid, the cis-trans isomerism of the coformer can influence the drug’s crystalline structure and physical properties.

Chemical formula

C₁₇H₁₉FN₄O₄

Canonical SMILES

CN1CCN(CC1)C2=C(C=C3C4=C2OCN(N4C=C(C3=O)C(=O)O)C)F

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

BPFYOAJNDMUVBL-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C17H19FN4O4/c1-19-3-5-21(6-4-19)14-12(18)7-10-13-16(14)26-9-20(2)22(13)8-11(15(10)23)17(24)25/h7-8H,3-6,9H2,1-2H3,(H,24,25)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
marbofloxacin	-

General status

Veterinary substance type

Antibiotic, Antibacterial

Substance groups

Fluoroquinolone

Minimum active substance purity

98%

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Broad-spectrum, acts by inhibiting bacterial DNA replication

Molecular targets

[DNA gyrase subunit A, Antagonist]

CAS RN

115550-35-1

EC number

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

Therapeutic Class

Antiinfectants for systemic use: Antibacterials for systemic use

ATCvet Code

QJ01MA93

Controlled Drug?

Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification

Allowed substance (Table 1: Bovine, Porcine)

Molecular mass

362.36

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

9-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-7H-pyridol(3,2,1-ij)(4,2,1)benzoxadiazin-6 carboxylic acid

CAS name

9-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-7H-pyrido(3,2,1-ij)(4,1,2)benzoxadiazine-6-carboxylic acid

Forever chemical

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Physical state

Pale yellow, crystalline powder

Related substances & organisms

enrofloxacin

orbifloxacin

ciprofloxacin

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1991, discovered; 1999, first regulatory approvals;

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

Vetoquinol UK Ltd
Livisto International S.L.
Alpha-vet Allatgyogyaszati Kft

Example products using this active

Aurizon Ear Drops suspension
Boflox Flavour Tablets
Gefriderm Cutaneous Spray Solution
Marbocyl Tablets

Formulation and application details

Available in a range of different formulations including solutions for injection, ear drops, tablets and cutaneous sprays

Commercial production

The production of marbofloxacin involves a multi-step synthetic process starting from specific heterocyclic intermediates. A key step includes the reaction of a substituted piperazine derivative with a quinolone precursor, typically under controlled conditions using reagents like ammonium hydroxide and halogenated compounds. These reactions form the core fluoroquinolone structure, incorporating a fluorine atom at the 9-position and a carboxylic acid group at the 6-position of the quinolone ring.

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)

268

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

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

1.46 X 10^-01

Calculated

Log P

-0.835

Low

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

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)

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)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

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 soil and groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

Metabolite name and reference

Aliases

Formation medium / Rate

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 1781

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

62.3

Daphnia magna

Low

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

> 5.0

Ceriodaphnia dubia LC₅₀

Moderate

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)

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)

> 1781

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

Excreted mostly unchanged in the urine, only small proportion is metabolised and excreted in the 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

General human health issues

Possible liver and kidney toxicant
May cause vomiting, reddening of the skin, weight loss and dehydration
May cause photosensitisation

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Dust may be hazardous

CLP classification 2013

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

marbofloxacin

French

marbofloxacine

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

marbofloxacino

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	16/09/2025
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