This invention is in the field of anthracycline family of drugs. More particularly, it concerns converting daunorubicin hydrochloride to an orotate salt and providing methods of improving the tolerability of daunorubicin in animals by reducing the adverse effects and toxicity in noncancerous tissues. Daunorubicin orotate provides a safer treatment for specific types of leukemias and neuroblastomas in adults and in pediatric patients.
