Antivirals Flashcards
What is a virus made of?
No cell wall, made up of nucleic acid components:
- protein coat (capsid)
- nucleic acid core, or genome
- some have lipoprotein envelope
- viruses containing envelope are antigenic in nature
- Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites
- Use host enzymes, don’t have metabolic machinery of their own.
Where do viruses replicate in the host?
certain ones multiply in cytoplasm and others do so in the nucleus
-most have to replicate so many times before they illicit symptoms in the host and before the dx is made.
Process of viral infection and replication?
- Absorption: binds to host cell
- Penetration: virus injects genome into host cell
- Viral genome replication: viral genome replicates using the host’s cellular machinery
- Assembly: viral components and enzymes are produced and begin to assemble.
- Maturation: viral components assemble and viruses fully develop.
- Release: newly produced viruses are expelled from the host cell.
What must antiviral drugs do to be effective?
must either:
- block viral entry into or exit from the cell
- be active inside the host cell
What is the MOA of most anti-viral drugs?
many are purine or pyrimidine analogs.
- Many are prodrugs: so they must be phosphorylated by viral or cellular enzymes in order to become active.
- anti-viral agents inhibit active replication so the viral growth resumes after drug removal.
What is an important part of fighting viral infections?
current anti-viral agents don’t eliminate non-replicating or latent virus
- **Effective host immune response remains essential for recovery from viral infection.
- clinical efficacy depends on achieving inhibitory concentration at site of the infection within the infected cells
What are the anti-HSV/VZV agents?
Herpes/Varicella/Zoster
acyclovir (zovirax)
famciclovir (famvir)
valacyclovir (valtrex)
MOA of anti-HSV/VZV agents?
All 3 are guanine nucleoside analogs.
- all are phosphorylated by a viral thymidine-kinase, then metabolized by host cell kinases to nucleotide analogs.
- The analog inhibits viral DNA-polymerase and only actively replicating viruses are inhibited
Acyclovir (zovirax)
guanosine analog
-topical, oral, and IV
Spectrum of Acyclovir?
HSV 1 and 2, VZV, and possible EBV
*DOC for HSV genital infections, herpes labialis/orolabial, HSV encephalitis, HSV infections in immunocompromised and pregnant pt
Pharmokinetics of acyclovir?
oral bioavailability: 20-30% distribution to all tissues including CNS -renal excretion: >80% -half life: 2-5 hours -topical, oral and IV
Acyclovir safety
Pregnancy: B
lactation: safe
renal dosing: adjust if CrCl
Acyclovir MOA
inhibition of viral synthesis of DNA
- uptake by infected cell
- competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for viral DNA polymerases:
- chain termination -> inactivated viral DNA polymerase
What cells is acyclovir selectively activated in?
in cells infected with herpes virus
-uninfected cells don’t phosphorylate acyclovir.
When would you take acyclovir for genital/mucocutaneous HSV?
Take it for first episode: frequent dosing (trying to prevent it from reocurring)
Recurrence and suppression if pt has frequent recurrence.
Adverse effects of Acyclovir
- reversible renal toxicity
- Neuro symptoms: encephalopathic changes - somnolence, hallucinations, confusion and coma.
- TTP/HUS in immunocompromised
- GI sxs
- HA
- rash
- photosensitivity
- anemia
Resistance to acyclovir and MOA of resistance
MIC>2-3 mcg/mL
- mostly occurs in immunocompromised
- 3 basic resistance mechanisms exist:
1. reduced or absent thymidine kinase
2. altered TK substrate specifity
3. alterations in DNA poly. - there is cross resistance to famciclovir and valacyclovir
Why tx with acyclovir?
genital herpes: shortens duration of sxs, viral shedding time, and time to resolution of lesions
recurrent genital herpes: shortens course of time by 1-2 days
long term tx: decreases frequency of both symptomatic recurrences and asymptomatic viral shedding -> decreases sexual transmissions.
Varicella Zoster: decreases total number of lesions and duration of varicella (if begun w/in 24 hours after onset of rash).
Famciclovir (Famvir)
cyclic guanine analong:
- converted to penciclovir in the liver and intestines
- penciclovir is used only topically whereas famciclovir can be administered orally.
- PO only
Spectrum of famciclovir
HSV 1 & 2, VZV, maybe in EBV
- in vitro to HBV
Pharmacokinetics of famciclovir
oral bioavailability: 77% 1st pass metabolism in intestine and liver: results in conversion to penciclovir Renal excretion: > 80% half life: 2-3 hours - Just PO
Famciclovir safety
Pregnancy: B
lactation: unknown, caution advised
Renal dosing: adjust dose for CrCl
MOA of famciclovir
Similar to acyclovir -> inhibition of viral synthesis of DNA, uptake by infected cell and competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for viral DNA polymerases -> inactivates viral DNA polymerase
-it is converted to penciclovir triphosphate and compared to acyclovir triphosphate, penciclovir 3xP has lower affinity for viral DNA polymerase but does have longer intracellular half life
Famciclovir uses
zoster (shingles), and genital and orolabial HSV (for 1st occurence, recurrence and suppression)
Famciclovir adverse effects
- neutropenia
- thrombocytopenia
- neurological sxs: encephalopathic changes -> somnolence, hallucinations and delirium
- GI sxs
- HA, fatigue
- abnormal LFT’s
Resistance to Famciclovir
- mutations in viral TK or DNA polymerase
- cross resistance with acyclovir in TK negative strains
- May still have activity in TK altered strains
- resistance to HBV due to pt mutation (viral DNA polymerase)
Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Prodrug of acyclovir:
rapidly and almost completely converted to a acyclovir, same MOA, same spectrum, same mechanism of resistance
Pros and cons of Valacyclovir
Advantage: more convenient dosing, better oral bioavailability (55%)
cons: more pricey than acyclovir