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Updated: Sep 3, 2025
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Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Published on: May 9, 2025
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Antivirals With Activity Against Mpox: A Clinically Oriented Review
Emily A Siegrist1, Joseph Sassine2
1Department of Pharmacy, OUHealth, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Summary
Mpox virus, a significant pathogen, is targeted by three antiviral drugs: cidofovir, brincidofovir, and tecovirimat. This review details their pharmacology, animal data, and human use against orthopoxviruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Mpox virus is an emergent orthopoxvirus causing significant human morbidity and mortality.
- While less lethal than smallpox, mpox poses a growing public health concern.
- Effective antiviral therapies are crucial for managing orthopoxvirus infections.
Approach:
- This review examines three antiviral agents with demonstrated activity against mpox and related orthopoxviruses.
- The agents discussed are cidofovir, its prodrug brincidofovir, and tecovirimat.
- Pharmacology, preclinical animal model data, and clinical human patient experience are analyzed for each drug.
Key Points:
- Cidofovir and brincidofovir inhibit viral DNA replication, offering broad-spectrum activity against double-stranded DNA viruses.
- Tecovirimat specifically targets orthopoxviruses by inhibiting extracellular enveloped virus formation, crucial for transmission.
- Understanding the mechanisms and clinical data of these antivirals is vital for treatment strategies.
Conclusions:
- Cidofovir, brincidofovir, and tecovirimat represent key therapeutic options for mpox and other orthopoxvirus infections.
- Further research and clinical application of these antivirals can improve patient outcomes.
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on these agents for clinicians and researchers.
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