BVDU ((E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2’-Deoxyuridine)

Abstract

BVDU [(E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2’-deoxyuridine] is one of the most efficient an- tiherpes agents yet discovered. In cell culture, it inhibits the replication of several herpesviruses, i.e. herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), pseudorabies virus (PRV) and bovid herpesvirus type 1 (BHV1), at a concentration of about 0.01 μg/ml, while not affecting normal cell metabolism at a concentration up to 30-100 μg/ml. BVDU is specifically phosphorylated by the virus-induced deoxythymidine (dThd) kinase and the target for its antiviral action may be the viral DNA synthesis or viral DNA itself. BVDU has demonstrated high efficacy in several animal model infections, i.e. HSV1 keratitis in rabbits, HSV1 encephalitis in mice, mucocutaneous HSV1 lesions in mice and guinea pigs, and simian varicella virus infection in monkeys. Preliminary clinical studies indicate that BVDU may have great potentials in the topical and systemic (i.e. oral) treatment of HSV1 and VZV infections in humans