Related Experiment Videos
Antiviral therapy: current concepts and practices
1Department of Pathology, Humana Hospital-Michael Reese, Chicago, Illinois 60616.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Antiviral drug development has advanced significantly since the 1970s, offering treatments for various viral infections. Current research focuses on combination therapies and novel approaches to combat viral resistance.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Antiviral drug discovery began in the 1950s, with significant progress in identifying virus-specific enzyme inhibitors in the 1970s.
- Recent advancements have expanded the range of available antiviral agents and deepened the understanding of antiviral therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current landscape of antiviral therapies.
- To discuss the challenges and future directions in antiviral drug development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of antiviral agents and their applications.
- Discussion of emerging trends in antiviral research.
Main Results:
- Established antiviral drugs include amantadine, ribavirin, vidarabine, acyclovir, ganciclovir, foscarnet, zidovudine, and didanosine.
- Immunomodulators and immunoglobulins are increasingly used for viral illnesses.
- Antiviral drug resistance is a concern, particularly in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, but is actively being studied.
Conclusions:
- Combination therapy is increasingly employed to enhance efficacy, prevent resistance, and reduce drug toxicity.
- Novel strategies like liposome drug delivery and computer-aided drug design show promise for future antiviral treatments.