Abstract
Since the 1950s, great efforts have been made to develop antiviral agents against many infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Among the list of nearly 106 antiviral agents approved in the past five decades, Prof. Erik De Clercq has contributed to the development of 7 antiviral drugs: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread®) for HIV and HBV treatment, tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy®) for HIV and HBV treatment, brivudine (Zostex®) for HSV-1 and VZV treatment, valacyclovir (Valtrex®) for HSV and VZV treatment, adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera®) for HBV treatment, stavudine (Zerit®) for HIV treatment, and cidofovir (Vistide®) for treating HCMV retinitis in AIDS patients. In addition to the above antiviral drugs, his contributions include two anti-cancer drugs: rabacfosadine (Tanovea®-CA1) for canine lymphoma and plerixafor (Mozobil®) for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These achievements are driven by his life-long passions for antiviral research and successful collaborations worldwide. To honor the 80th birthday of Prof. Erik De Clercq, this study highlights his scientific achievements and the importance of life-long passions and collaborations in the success of antiviral research and drug development.
Highlights
In the past five decades, many compounds have been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or the European Medicines Agency to treat infectious diseases caused by contagious vi ruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human cytomega lovirus (HCMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, orthopoxviruses, Ebola virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
In the past five decades, many compounds have been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or the European Medicines Agency to treat infectious diseases caused by contagious vi ruses such as HIV, HBV, HCV, HCMV, HSV, VZV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, orthopoxviruses, Ebola virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
This drug list could be extended with at least 16 antiviral agents, which were approved by the U.S FDA from 2016 to 2020, including (i) four HIV inhibitors: bictegravir, doravirine, fostemsavir, and ibalizumab-uiyk; (ii) four HCV inhibitors: velpatasvir, voxilaprevir, glecaprevir, and pibrentasvir; (iii) four ebolavirus mono clonal antibodies: ansuvimab-zykl, atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn; (iv) one HCMV inhibitor: letermovir; (v) one ortho poxvirus inhibitor: tecovirimat; (vi) one influenza inhibitor: baloxavir marboxil; and (vii) one SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor: remdesivir
Summary
In the past five decades, many compounds have been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or the European Medicines Agency to treat infectious diseases caused by contagious vi ruses such as HIV, HBV, HCV, HCMV, HSV, VZV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, orthopoxviruses, Ebola virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and tenofovir alafenamide are two important antiviral drugs in the treatment of HIV and HBV infections worldwide. His contributions include plerixafor and rabacfosadine - two antiviral compounds that were repurposed for lymphoma treatment [2,3]. Erik De Clercq has contributed with more than 2800 scientific publications and 100 pat ents, mostly in the field of antiviral research He has built profound collaborations worldwide and their joint efforts have led to many important discoveries, briefly summarized below. In 2005 a new prodrug of tenofovir called tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) was developed with improved safety profiles Both TDF and TAF have been marketed for the treatment of HIV and HBV.
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