Acyclovir News and Research

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Acyclovir is a synthetic analog of the purine nucleoside, guanosine, with potent antiviral activity against herpes simplex viruses type 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus and other viruses. After conversion in vivo to the active metabolite acyclovir triphosphate, acyclovir competitively inhibits viral DNA polymerase, incorporates into and terminates the growing viral DNA chain, and inactivates viral DNA polymerase. The greater antiviral activity of acyclovir against HSV compared to VZV is due to its more efficient phosphorylation by the thymidine kinase of HSV.

Brain organoids provide new insights into HSV-1 encephalitis

The herpes simplex virus-1 can sometimes cause a dangerous brain infection. Combining an anti-inflammatory and an antiviral could help in these cases, report scientists with the Rajewsky and Landthaler labs and the Organoid Platform at the Max Delbrück Center in Nature Microbiology.

22 Jun 2023

Traditional Chinese medicine may help treat neurodegenerative diseases caused by HSV-1 reactivation

Announcing a new publication for Acta Materia Medica journal. Owing to environmental and lifestyle changes in modern society, physical and mental stress is on the rise among the population in attempting to compensate for the changes.

3 Jan 2023

Miracles Start in the Lab: the quest to find a vaccine to cure AIDS

To commemorate World AIDS Day, News Medical spoke to Dr. Larry Corey, an internationally renowned expert in virology, immunology, and vaccine development, and the former president and director of Fred Hutch, about his work within the field of HIV/AIDS research and vaccine development.

30 Nov 2022

Can monkeypox infection lead to myocarditis?

A recent study presents the first known case of myocarditis as a complication of monkeypox virus infection.

13 Nov 2022

Researchers describe case report of male monkeypox patient

In a new case study, researchers described the case of a male patient with monkeypox.

10 Aug 2022

The recent progress in investigating the inhibitory impact of nanosponges and antiviral delivery against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers assessed the potential of nanosponges against SARS-CoV-2.

1 Aug 2022

New mouse model faithfully mimics brain damage caused by severe Rift Valley Fever virus infection

A new mouse model identified by virologists from the University of Pittsburgh might revolutionize development of therapies targeting brain inflammation caused by Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV).

15 Jul 2022

Pacific oyster as a weapon against SARS-CoV-2

According to an article published in the journal Reviews in Medical Virology, the effectiveness of mollusc-derived antiviral agents has been proven in many different laboratory and animal studies, while its efficacy against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has also been proposed by recent in silico studies.

7 Nov 2021

Peptoids could one day cure or prevent herpes, COVID-19

In addition to antibodies and white blood cells, the immune system deploys peptides to fight viruses and other pathogens.

24 Aug 2021

Antiviral strategy using synthetic peptoid has promising implications for fighting infection

Scientists have manufactured a synthetic form of peptide to combat viral infections, with tests already conducted on HSV-1 as well as SARS-CoV-2.

24 Aug 2021

Drug prescribed for rare enzyme deficiency shows promise to treat herpes viruses

A drug currently prescribed to treat a rare enzyme deficiency can help cells clear the herpes simplex 1 and herpes simplex 2 viruses, according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances.

7 Dec 2020

New and sudden headaches may be a symptom of COVID-19

Researchers report a case of a young male patient who came in with a headache to an emergency room. He had increased intracranial pressure and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, suggesting new headaches during the pandemic should not be ignored.

2 Dec 2020

Researchers discover molecular mechanism that helps HSV1 infect the brain

Herpes simplex virus (HSV1) infections are initiated at mucosal surfaces where the virus infects epithelial cells.

8 May 2020

Clinical trial launched to investigate safety and efficacy of antiviral drug for COVID-19

Physician-scientists at four University of California Health medical centers -- UC San Diego Health, UC San Francisco, UC Irvine Health and UC Davis Health -- have begun recruiting participants for a Phase II clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of treating adult patients with COVID-19 with remdesivir, an antiviral drug that has shown activity in animal models and human clinical trials of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Ebola, Marburg and other viruses.

24 Mar 2020

Exploring the biological link between reactivated HSV and neurological disease

Without even knowing it, most of us carry around latent Herpes Simplex Virus in our nervous system- a simple result of being born and living together with others carrying the virus.

10 Mar 2020

Herpes treatment greatly improved by adding charcoal

A novel charcoal-based drug-delivery system to treat herpes infections topically shows greatly improved efficacy over conventional treatment. Here, the medication called acyclovir, commonly used for herpes infection, was combined with activated carbon particles.

15 Aug 2019

Probiotic-derived molecule optimizes the immune system to combat viral inflammatory diseases

The existence of certain microorganisms in your gut may bolster the immune system's ability to fend off a herpes viral attack that can cause fatal brain inflammation, reports a new City of Hope-led study.

14 May 2019

Shingles raises the risk for heart attack and stroke

Persons who have had chicken pox are prone to develop shingles with the Herpes zoster virus that lays dormant within them. A new study has shown that getting shingles - a painful skin condition caused by the virus could also raise the risk of heart disease such as heart attacks and strokes in individuals. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

5 Jul 2017

Slayback Pharma launches Generic Zovirax Ointment 5% for herpes virus infections

Slayback Pharma LLC is pleased to announce the launch of Generic Zovirax Ointment (Acyclovir Ointment) 5%, by its out-licensee - Sandoz (Fougera). Slayback had developed the product and out-licensed the sales and marketing rights to Sandoz.

23 Dec 2016

Study compares medications for treatment of persons with recurrent genital herpes

In a study appearing in the December 20 issue of JAMA, Anna Wald, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Washington & Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, and colleagues compared the medications pritelivir and valacyclovir for reducing genital herpes simplex virus shedding and lesions in persons with recurrent genital herpes.

20 Dec 2016