Development of a New Oral Antiviral Drug for Poxvirus Infections
Author Information
Author(s): Hostetler Karl Y.
Primary Institution: University of California, San Diego
Hypothesis
Can hexadecyloxypropylcidofovir (HDP-CDV) be developed as an effective oral treatment for poxvirus infections?
Conclusion
HDP-CDV is a highly effective oral antiviral agent against various orthopoxvirus infections and shows promise for treating human infections.
Supporting Evidence
- HDP-CDV showed significantly enhanced antiviral activity compared to cidofovir in various in vitro studies.
- The oral bioavailability of HDP-CDV was found to be 88%, making it a promising alternative to intravenous treatments.
- HDP-CDV provided full protection in animal models against lethal poxvirus infections.
- Clinical observations indicated that HDP-CDV was effective in a human case of disseminated vaccinia infection.
Takeaway
Researchers created a new medicine called HDP-CDV that can be taken by mouth and works well against viruses that cause diseases like smallpox.
Methodology
The study involved synthesizing HDP-CDV and testing its antiviral activity in vitro and in animal models.
Potential Biases
Potential conflicts of interest due to the author's consulting role with Chimerix Inc.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on animal models, and further clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy in humans.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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