Biofilms are associated with persistence of Staphylococcus aureus infections and therapeutic failures. Our aim was to set up a pharmacodynamic model comparing antibiotic activities against biofilms and examining in parallel their effects on viability and biofilm mass. Biofilms of S. aureus ATCC 25923 (methicillin-sensitive S. aureus [MSSA]) or ATCC 33591 (methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) were obtained by culture in 96-well plates for 6 h/24 h. Antibiotic activities were assessed after 24/48 h of exposure to concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 512 times the MIC. Biofilm mass and bacterial viability were quantified using crystal violet and the redox indicator resazurin. Biofilms stained with Live/Dead probes were observed by using confocal microscopy. Concentration-effect curves fitted sigmoidal regressions, with a 50% reduction toward both matrix and viability obtained at sub-MIC or low multiples of MICs against young biofilms for all antibiotics tested. Against mature biofilms, maximal efficacies and potencies were reduced, with none of the antibiotics being able to completely destroy the matrix. Delafloxacin and daptomycin were the most potent, reducing viability by more than 50% at clinically achievable concentrations against both strains, as well as reducing biofilm depth, as observed in confocal microscopy. Rifampin, tigecycline, and moxifloxacin were effective against mature MRSA biofilms, while oxacillin demonstrated activity against MSSA. Fusidic acid, vancomycin, and linezolid were less potent overall. Antibiotic activity depends on biofilm maturity and bacterial strain. The pharmacodynamic model developed allows ranking of antibiotics with respect to efficacy and potency at clinically achievable concentrations and highlights the potential utility of daptomycin and delafloxacin for the treatment of biofilm-related infections.S taphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, implicated in both hospital-and community-acquired infections. In addition to the increase in antibiotic resistance that often limits therapeutic options, pathogenic bacteria can adapt and survive in specific microenvironments that are also associated with therapeutic failure and recurrence or persistence of infection. Among them, biofilms play a significant role in persistent infections formed on the surface of implanted medical devices and in deep tissues (1-3). Biofilms are complex aggregates of bacteria encased in an extracellular matrix made of polymeric substances like DNA, polysaccharides, teichoic acids, and proteins (4). Biofilms protect bacteria from host defense and antibiotics, allowing them to remain dormant for long periods in the host, and represent a reservoir for resistance development and for bacterial dissemination within the body. Biofilm formation and growth are finely regulated and are accompanied by metabolic changes that could also affect bacterial response to antibiotics (5).Antibiotic activity against staphylococcal biofilms has been studied in a large variety of in vitro or animal models in an attempt ...