Cidofovir is an injectable antiviral

Antiviral drug

Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics for bacteria, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses...

 medication for the treatment of cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus is a viral genus of the viral group known as Herpesviridae or herpesviruses. It is typically abbreviated as CMV: The species that infects humans is commonly known as human CMV or human herpesvirus-5 , and is the most studied of all cytomegaloviruses...

 (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...

. It suppresses CMV replication by selective inhibition of viral DNA polymerase

DNA polymerase

A DNA polymerase is an enzyme that helps catalyze in the polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides into a DNA strand. DNA polymerases are best known for their feedback role in DNA replication, in which the polymerase "reads" an intact DNA strand as a template and uses it to synthesize the new strand....

 and therefore prevention of viral replication

Viral replication

Viral replication is the term used by virologists to describe the formation of biological viruses during the infection process in the target host cells. Viruses must first get into the cell before viral replication can occur. From the perspective of the virus, the purpose of viral replication is...

 and transcription. It is an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate, and is therefore independent of phosphorylation by viral enzymes, in contrast to, for instance, acyclovir.

Administration

Maintenance therapy with cidofovir involves an infusion only once every two weeks, making it a convenient treatment option. Because dosing is relatively infrequent, a permanent catheter is not necessary for infusions.

Side effects

The major side effect of cidofovir is that it can be nephrotoxic.

Probenecid

Probenecid

Probenecid is a uricosuric drug that increases uric acid excretion in the urine. It is primarily used in treating gout and hyperuricemia.Probenecid was developed as an alternative to caronamide...

 (a uricosuric drug) is usually prescribed to prevent this nephrotoxicity.

DNA virus

Cidofovir demonstrated a statistically significant effect in delaying the progression of CMV retinitis lesions in newly diagnosed patients, as well as in previously treated patients who had failed other therapies.

Cidofovir has shown efficacy as an anti-HSV, anti-VZV and as an anti-CMV

Cidofovir has also shown efficacy in the treatment of acyclovir resistant herpes

Cidofovir has also been investigated as a treatment for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy , also known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalitis, is a rare and usually fatal viral disease that is characterized by progressive damage or inflammation of the white matter of the brain at multiple locations .It occurs almost exclusively in...

, but studies are inconclusive.

Cidofovir might have anti-smallpox

Smallpox

Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...

 efficacy and might be used on a limited basis in the event of a bioterror incident involving smallpox cases.In fact, it is a extremely high chance for Cidofovir to work against smallpox.

Cidofovir shows anti-BK virus

BK virus

The BK virus is a member of the polyomavirus family. Past infection with the BK virus is widespread, but significant consequences of infection are uncommon, with the exception of the immunocompromised and the immunosuppressed.-History:...

 activity in a subgroup of transplant patients.

Cidofovir is being investigated as a complementary intralesional therapy against papillomatosis

Papillomatosis

Papillomatosis is skin surface elevation caused by hyperplasia and enlargement of contiguous dermal papillae.- See also :* Skin lesion* Skin disease* List of skin diseases* Papilloma* Laryngeal papillomatosis...

 caused by HPV.

History

Cidofovir was discovered at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague, by Antonín Holý

Antonín Holý

Antonín Holý is a Czech scientist. He specialises in the field of chemistry and cooperated on the development of important antiretroviral drugs used in the treatment of HIV and hepatitis B. He was involved in the creation of the most effective drug in the treatment of AIDS...

, and developed by Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes therapeutics. For many years since the company was founded, the company concentrated primarily on antiviral drugs to treat patients infected with HIV, hepatitis B or influenza. In 2006, Gilead acquired two...

 and is marketed with the brand name Vistide by Gilead in the USA, and by Pfizer

Pfizer

Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...

elsewhere.

Synthesis