E7070 is a novel sulfonamide anticancer agent that arrests the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. Preclinical and phase I studies have demonstrated non-linear pharmacokinetics (PK) of the drug. A population PK analysis revealed that the human plasma concentration–time data were best described by a three-compartment model with non-linear distribution. We have studied thein vitrointeraction of14C-radiolabeled E7070 with red blood cells (RBC) and its binding to plasma proteins in the concentration range where non-linearity in disposition was observed in humans to get more insight into the behavior of the drug. After the addition of E7070 to whole blood at 37°C, the drug is taken up or binds to RBC in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of sodium azide, however, did not result in a decrease of drug uptake by RBC, indicating passive diffusion processes. A non-linear increase in drug uptake was observed at incubation concentrations above 4 μg/ml E7070 in whole blood. This non-linearity was confirmed by lower partition coefficients between RBC and plasma at higher incubation concentrations (from 2.37 at 4 μg/ml to 0.31 at 200 μg/ml). The plasma protein binding of E7070 was high (98–99%) and linear in the concentration range studied (20–200 μg/ml). In conclusion, E7070 in whole blood is preferentially bound to RBC and exhibits high plasma protein binding. The non-linear distribution of E7070 in humans can be caused, in part at least, by saturable binding of E7070 to RBC.