Drugs in development for herpes simplex and varicella zoster virus

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2017 Jul;102(1):30-32. doi: 10.1002/cpt.647. Epub 2017 Mar 17.

Abstract

The alpha-herpesviruses varicella zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) share common features including lifelong persistence in sensory ganglia and the risk of recurrences. For both HSV and VZV, standard-of-care (SoC) is based on nucleoside analogs (NAs), which require specific activation in infected cells. These existing drugs exhibit substantial limitations, warranting the development of new and more effective drugs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents* / classification
  • Antiviral Agents* / pharmacology
  • DNA Helicases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA Primase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Herpes Simplex / drug therapy*
  • Herpes Simplex / virology
  • Herpes Zoster / drug therapy*
  • Herpes Zoster / virology
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human* / drug effects
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Medication Therapy Management / trends
  • Nucleosides / pharmacology
  • Simplexvirus* / drug effects
  • Simplexvirus* / physiology
  • Viral Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Nucleosides
  • Viral Proteins
  • DNA Primase
  • helicase-primase, Human herpesvirus 1
  • DNA Helicases