This study was conducted to investigate the repeated dose toxicity of DA-125, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, in rats. Before the 13-week main study, a 4-week dose-range finding (DRF) study was carried out. The administration of DA-125 intravenously at dosage levels of 0, 0.125, 0.5, 2.0, and 8.0 mg/kg/day to rats for 4 weeks resulted in premature deaths of all animals in the 8.0 mg/kg/day group and in the deaths of 4 males and 4 females at 2.0 mg/kg/day. Body weights were markedly reduced in the 8.0 mg/kg/day group and showed dose-related decreases in all treatment groups when compared with the control group. Reductions in weight gain were slight and not significantly different at 0.125 mg/kg/day but animals receiving 0.5 mg/kg/day showed more marked decreases in gain in a clear dose-related manner Based On the results of the above DRF study, a 13-week repeated dose intravenous toxicity study in rats with DA-125 was performed at a dose level of 0, 0.012, 0.08 and 0.3 mg/kg/day. No treatment related effects were noted in behavior or body weight in all treatment groups. One male at the highest dose level died on study day 26, but the death could not be related to test article toxicity. Swelling and scabbing of the ears was present in all of the groups, including the control group. There were no treatment related changes in the hematological, biochemical or urinalysis values in all treatment groups. Thymus weights were significantly reduced ill males receiving 0.3 mg/kg/day and they were sligltly, and not significantly, reduced in females of the same group. While there were no associated histological changes. Treatment related necrosis was found in the tail vein (injection site) at 0.08 and 0.3 mg/kg/day. On the basis of these results, the no observed effect level (NOEL) was 0.012 mg/kg/day and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was estimated to be more than 0.3 mg/kg/day under the conditions tested.