Aclarubicin is an anthracycline originally isolated from Streptomyces and has antibiotic and anticancer activities. It is active against B. subtilis, B. cereus, S. aureus, M. smegmatis, S. pyogenes, and S. faecalis (MICs = <0.2-2.5 μg/ml). Aclarubicin is a DNA intercalating agent, topoisomerase I poison, and an inhibitor of topoisomerase II catalytic activity. It inhibits the growth of L1210 leukemia cells (IC = 0.12 μg/ml) and increases survival in an L1210 murine leukemia model when administered at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg per day.