The tripeptide-type synthetic thrombin inhibitor D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine nitrile (1) was studied with respect to its toxicity and pharmacokinetics in mice, rats and rabbits. In mice the LD50 after i.v. injection was determined to be about 30-40 mg/kg. After i.v. injection and infusion in rats 1 caused a decrease in blood pressure up to 70-80% of initial values. The dose of 2 mg/kg.min led to a final outcome after about 15 min accompanied by a sharp decrease in blood pressure. The bleeding time after standardized incision of the rat tail was not significantly prolonged at doses which were tolerated. In pharmacokinetic studies the biologic half-life of 1 after i.v. injection was estimated to be about 12 min. After s.c. injection measurable plasma levels were obtained up to 5 h. Oral or intraduodenal administration of high doses of the inhibitor did not give effective plasma levels. Biliary excretion seems to be an important route of elimination. Cumulative excretion of 1 with the bile amounted to 31% of the dose within 240 min.