In vitro activities of LB20304a were compared with those of grepafloxacin (OPC-17116), Q-35, ciprofloxacin, and sparfloxacin against 380 clinical isolates collected from general hospitals in 1996. LB 20304a was the most active agent against gram-positive strains including staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci. LB20304a was also very active against gram-negative bacteria and its activity was comparable to that of ciprofloxacin but better than those of grepafloxacin, Q-35 and sparfloxacin. The therapeutic effect of LB20304a was superior to those of sparfloxacin and ciprofloxacin against systemic infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus K283 (MRSA) in neutropenic mice. Against urinary tract infection induced by Escherichia coli 851E in mice, LB20304a was more active than sparfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. However, LB 20304a was slightly less active than that of ciprofloxacin against urinary tract infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1912E, but better than that of sparfloxacin.