After i.v. administration to mice, GF120918 penetrates thoroughly various organs that have a tissue level/blood level ratio above 10. It is eliminated from organs and blood with a half-time of approximately 2.7 h. It is well absorbed after p.o. administration.

In mice implanted i.p. with the MDR P388/Dox tumor, a single i.v. or p.o. dose of GF120918 restores sensitivity of the tumor to a single i.p. dose (5 mg/kg) of doxorubicin administered 1 h later. A statistically significant effect is observed at 1 mg/kg GF120918 i.v. and maximal effect is reached at 5 mg/kg. Similarly, whereas neither drug alone is effective, GF120918 (10 mg/kg i.p.) associated with doxorubicin (5 mg/kg i.p.) inhibits the growth of the moderately MDR C26 tumor implanted s.c. as assessed by tumor size at day 19. GF120918 does not modify significantly the distribution or the elimination of doxorubicin in mice ruling out the possibility that the antitumor effects seen might be explained by pharmacokinetic interactions.