Phase I clinical studies of 7432-S, a new oral cephalosporin, including a randomized placebo-controlled trial were conducted with 40 healthy volunteers. In single-dose studies, 7432-S was orally administered at doses of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg. The mean plasma levels peaked at 2.1 to 3.0 hours and reached 1.9, 3.6, 5.6, and 11.6 micrograms/ml, respectively. Linear correlation was observed between plasma AUC values and doses given. The half-lives of the plasma levels were 0.88 to 2.26 hours with a mean of 1.53 +/- 0.33 hours. The mean urinary recoveries were 67.5 to 75.2% of the dose within 24 hours. 7432-S was partially metabolized to 7432-S-trans which was excreted in urine at 7.2 to 9.2% of the doses. Study of the meal effect showed that AUC values and peak levels were not altered although the time to the peak levels was slightly prolonged. In multiple-dose studies, 100 mg of 7432-S twice daily for 2 weeks and 200 mg twice daily for 1 week were administered and there was no abnormal accumulation of 7432-S in plasma throughout the study. No significant differences were observed in plasma levels and urinary recoveries between single- and multiple-dose regimens. Clinical symptoms, physical tests, laboratory parameters, and fecal levels of vitamins K1 and K2 were in normal ranges. 7432-S was concluded to be safe and well tolerated.