ORG 9426 is a new non-depolarizing steroidal muscle relaxant with a short onset time and intermediate duration of action. Its ED90 ist estimated to be between 0.25 and 0.36 mg/kg. The present study investigated the onset time, duration of action and time to spontaneous recovery after 0.3 and 0.9 mg/kg ORG 9426, respectively (i.e. about single or triple ED90). METHODS. Following the consent of the ethics committee and informed patient consent, two groups of 18 patients (ASA I or II) were formed, each scheduled for general or ORL surgery. After premedication with lormetazepam, anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.07 mg/kg) and etomidate (0.3 mg/kg) and maintained with N2O/O2 at a 65:35 ratio, enflurane (0.8-1.5%) and supplements of fentanyl as needed. The ulnar nerve was stimulated with supramaximal 2 Hz Train-of-four (TOF) every 20 s. Neuromuscular twitch response was registered with EMG. Muscle relaxation was achieved by administration of ORG 9426 0.3 (group 1) and 0.9 mg/kg (group 2), respectively. The following parameters were measured: onset time (time interval from injection to maximal or total block), T125/75 (time for T1 to reach 25% or 75% of control), TOF70 (time for TOF ratio to reach 70% of control), heart rate and blood pressure. RESULTS. (mean +/- SD). At a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg, the onset time was 3.1 +/- 0.8 min and the maximum blockade was 87 +/- 9%. A dosage of 0.9 mg/kg led to complete paralysis (100%) in all patients within 1.2 +/- 0.3 min. The time for recovery of T1 to 25 and 75% of baseline was 18 +/- 7 and 26 +/- 8 min in group 1, in group 2 46 +/- 11 and 53 +/- 17 min, respectively. TOF70 (i.e., time to adequate spontaneous recovery of neuromuscular function) was achieved after 30 +/- 10 and 63 +/- 14 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. At a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg, ORG 9426 has an onset time of about 3 min and a duration of activity of nearly half an hour. Its neuromuscular effects are similar to a single ED90 dose of vecuronium. In contrast to a previous study, we observed a much shorter onset time of 70 s following the administration of 0.9 mg/kg. The clinical duration of action and spontaneous recovery of neuromuscular function, however, were significantly prolonged to more than 1 h. The hemodynamic parameters showed only slight alterations.