The disposition of [4S-[4 alpha,7 alpha,(R*),12b beta]]-7- [S-(1-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl)amino]-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,12b-octahydro-6- oxo- pyrido[2,1-a][2]benzazepine-4-carboxylic acid (MDL 27,088), a new a new angiotensin-covering enzyme inhibitor, was studied in cynomolgus monkeys and beagle dogs given intravenous (iv) doses of MDL 27,088 or its prodrug, MDL 27,210. Although in both species iv-administered MDL 27,210 was extensively (> 99.9%) metabolized and excreted in the urine and feces as MDL 27,088, the disposition of MDL 27,088 appeared to be significantly influenced by its mode of administration. For example, the mean terminal half-life of MDL 27,088 in plasma was longer when MDL 27,088 was given as its prodrug (3.65 and 2.23 h in monkeys and dogs, respectively) than when it was administered directly (0.84 and 1.05 h in monkeys and dogs, respectively). The renal excretion of MDL 27,088 also increased (from 33 to 73% of the dose in monkeys and from 9 to 17% of the dose in dogs) when MDL 27,088 was administered directly versus when it was given as its prodrug. These and other results of this study suggest that the disposition of MDL 27,088 can be significantly altered by iv administration of its prodrug form. Such changes in disposition also suggest that iv administration of prodrug may influence the pharmacological activity of MDL 27,088.