Antivirals Flashcards
The basic process of viral infection and virus replication occurs in 6 main steps:
Absorption Penetration Viral genome replication Assembly Maturation Release
To be effective, antiviral agents must either?
2
Block viral entry into or exit from the cell
Be active inside the host cell
Name the kind of drugs most antivirals are?
1 and 2
Purine or Pyrimidine analogs.
They are prodrugs –must be phosphorylated by viral or cellular enzyme
One step do anti-viral drugs work on of the viral attack?
Anti-viral agents inhibits active replication so the viral growth resumes after drug removal (when you stop them the virus will not be coontrolled anymore)
–nucleic acid synthesis specifically
What is needed for antiviral drugs to work?
3
- Current anti-viral agents do not eliminate non-replicating or latent virus (if they go into a latent stage)
- Effective host immune response remains essential for the recovery from the viral infection
- Clinical efficacy depends on achieving inhibitory concentration at the site of infection within the infected cells
- Must be actively replicating
- Host must have effective immune response
- Clinical efficacy = achieving inhibitory concentration
What are the Anti-HSV/VZV ((Herpes/Varicella/Zoster) agents?
3
Acyclovir (Zovirax)
Famciclovir (Famvir)
Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
MOA of Anti-HSV/VZV (Herpes/Varicella/Zoster) agents
2
The analog inhibits viral DNA-polymerase
Only actively replicating viruses are inhibited
What is Acyclovir (Zovirax®) used to treat?
mostly 2 and sometimes two others
Herpes simplex 1 (mouth) and 2 (genital)
varicella-zoster virus, possibly the Epstein-Barr Virus
Acyclovir (Zovirax®) is treatment of choice for?
4
- HSV Genital infections,
- Herpes labialis/orolabial (cold sores),
- HSV encephalitis,
- HSV infections in immunocompromised and pregnant patient
What dosage forms does it come in?
3(one main one)
Topical, ORAL, and intravenous formulations
Pharmacokinetics of Acyclovir : Oral bioavailability: Distribution in: Renal excretion: Half life: Administration:
~ 20-30% all body tissues including CNS > 80% 2-5 hours Topical, Oral , IV
Acyclovir safety/monitoring:
Renal Dosing?
Hepatic dosing?
- IV route CrCl 25-50 give q 12hrs: CrCl
Acyclovir Mechanism of Action?
2
Inhibition of viral synthesis of DNA
- Uptake by infected cell
- Competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for viral DNA polymerases (Chain termination)
Acyclovir is thus selectively activated in cells that are?
infected with herpes virus.
Uninfected cells do not phosphorylate acyclovir.
Acyclovir Adverse effects ?
3 big ones
5 others
Reversible renal toxicity Neurological symptoms TTP/HUS GI symptoms Headache Rash Photosensitivity Anemia
WHat kind of patient does Acyclovir Resistance most often occur in?
Three basic resistance mechanism exist?
What drugs are cross resistant to acyclovir?2
Mostly occurs in immunocompromised host
MIC > 2-3 mcg/mL
Reduced or absent thymidine kinase
Altered TK substrate specificity
Alterations in DNA polymerase
Cross resistance to famciclovir and valacyclovir
Acyclovir (Zovirax®) Why treat with it? Primary genital herpes:3 Recurrent genital herpes:1 Long term treatment:3 Varicella Zoster:2
- Shortens duration of symptoms, time of viral shedding and time to resolution of lesions by approximately 5 days.
- Shortens time course by 1-2 days
- Decreases frequency of both symptomatic recurrences and asymptomatic viral shedding, thus decreasing sexual transmissions
- Decreases total number of lesions and duration of varicella (if begun within 24 hours after the onset of rash)
What do we treat with Famciclovir (Famvir®)?
3
HSV 1 and 2, VZV,
to a lesser extent, EBV, in vitro activity to HBV
Pharmacokinetics of Famciclovir: Oral bioavailability: Metabolism: Renal excretion: Half life: Administration:
~ 77% First-pass metabolism in the intestine and liver results in conversion to penciclovir. > 80% 2-3 hours Oral
Famciclovir safety/monitoring:
Pregnancy Category?
Lactation?
Renal dosing?
Hepatic dosing?
B Safety Unknown (inadequate literature to assess risk: caution advised)
Adjust dose for CrCl
Famciclovir MOA?
how does it compare to acyclovir?
famciclovir is converted to penciclovir triphosphate and compared to acyclovir triphosphate,
penciclovir triphosphate has a lower affinity for viral DNA polymerase but a longer intracellular half-life.
Famciclovir Adverse effects
3 serious
4 general symptoms
Neutropenia
Thrombocytopenia
Neurological symptoms
GI symptoms
Headache
Fatigue
Abnormal LFT’s
Famciclovir Resistance mechanism?
Cross resistance with what drug and in what strains?
Mutations in viral TK or DNA polymerase
Cross resistance with acyclovir in TK negative strains
Valacyclovir (Valtrex®)
is what?
Dosage forms?
Valacyclovir is a prodrug of Acyclovir
Rapidly and almost completely converted to acyclovir
Orally only
WHat makes Valacyclovir different then from Acyclovir?
Why is it not used as often then?
Advantage: better oral bioavailability (55%)
More convenient dosing
Expensive
Valacyclovir (Valtrex®) Pharmacokinetics of Valacyclovir: Oral bioavailability? Metabolism? Renal excretion? Half life? Administration?
- ~ 55%
- undergoes rapid and extensive first-pass intestinal and hepatic hydrolysis to yield acyclovir
Food does not affect absorption - > 50%
- 2-3 hours
- Oral
Valacyclovir safety/monitoring
Pregnancy Category?
Lactation?
Renal Dosing?
Hepatic Dosing?
B
Safe
Adjust dose for CrCl
Valacyclovir (Valtrex®) adverse affects?
3 major
5
Reversible renal toxicity
Neurological symptoms
TTP/HUS
GI symptoms Headache Rash Photosensitivity Elevated LFT’s