Antiviral Drugs
John S Oxford, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital and Retroscreen Virology Ltd., London, UK
Published online: September 2008
DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0000410.pub2
Abstract
Antiviral drugs have now been developed against influenza, herpes, human immunodeficiency viruses, hepatitis C and hepatitis
B. Drug resistance is a practical problem and is stimulating the wider search for new drugs using compound libraries, molecular
technology and particularly X‐ray crystallography whilst drug combinations are used in acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS) patients and hepatitis to reduce the opportunities for virus mutations. The threat of a global outbreak of chicken
influenza (H5N1) has led to government stockpiling of the new antiflu drugs, the neuraminidase inhibitors. Pegylated and other
interferons are used in drug combinations with hepatitis B and C patients.
Keywords: antivirals; influenza; HIV; herpes; hepatitis
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