Ganciclovir sodium

Ganciclovir (BW 759) sodium, a nucleoside analogue and an orally active antiviral agent, shows activity against CMV. Ganciclovir sodium also has activity in vitro against members of the herpes group and some other DNA viruses. Ganciclovir sodium inhibits the in vitro replication of human herpes viruses (HSV 1 and 2, CMV) and adenovirus serotypes 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 19, 22 and 28. Ganciclovir sodium has an IC50 of 5.2 μM for feline herpesvirus type-1 (FHV-1)[1][2][3].

Ganciclovir sodium is an acyclic deoxyguanosine analog structurally similar to acyclovir but with superior activity against CMV. The median ganciclovir concentration required to inhibit viral replication by 50 percent is 2.15 mumol versus 72 mumol for acyclovir[4].The primary mechanism of ganciclovir action against CMV is inhibition of the replication of viral DNA by ganciclovir-5'-triphosphate (ganciclovir-TP). This inhibition includes a selective and potent inhibition of the viral DNA polymerase. Ganciclovir sodium is metabolized to the triphosphate form by primarily three cellular enzymes: a deoxyguanosine kinase induced by CMV-infected cells; guanylate kinase; and phosphoglycerate kinase[5].

Ganciclovir sodium (1-80 mg/kg; i.h.; daily for 5 days) delays MCMV-induced wasting syndrome and mortality[6]. Animal Model: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice (MCMV infection)[6]

[1]. Faulds D, et al. Ganciclovir. A review of its antiviral activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy in cytomegalovirus infections. Drugs. 1990;39(4):597-638. [2]. Maggs DJ, et al. In vitro efficacy of ganciclovir, cidofovir, penciclovir, foscarnet, idoxuridine, and acyclovir against feline herpesvirus type-1. Am J Vet Res. 2004 Apr;65(4):399-403. [3]. Boujemla I, et al. Pharmacokinetics and tissue diffusion of ganciclovir in mice and rats. Antiviral Res. 2016;132:111-115. [4]. Fletcher CV, et al. Evaluation of ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus disease. DICP. 1989 Jan;23(1):5-12. [5]. Matthews T, et al. Antiviral activity and mechanism of action of ganciclovir. Rev Infect Dis. 1988 Jul-Aug;10 Suppl 3:S490-4. [6]. Duan J, Paris W, Kibler P, Bousquet C, Liuzzi M, Cordingley MG. Dose and duration-dependence of ganciclovir treatment against murine cytomegalovirus infection in severe combined immunodeficient mice. Antiviral Res. 1998;39(3):189-197.