4'-fluorouridine

4'-Fluorouridine (4'-FlU, EIDD-2749) is a broad-spectrum, orally available ribonucleoside analog developed as a potent antiviral agent against a wide range of RNA viruses. Discovered through a collaboration between Georgia State University and Emory University, it is currently being developed by Vigonvita Life Sciences. The drug acts by targeting the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp); once incorporated into the nascent RNA strand, it causes transcriptional stalling, which prevents further viral replication. 4'-Fluorouridine has demonstrated high efficacy in animal models against high-consequence pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and various hemorrhagic fever viruses such as Lassa virus, Ebola virus, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). To overcome chemical stability challenges associated with the parent nucleoside, advanced prodrug derivatives like VV261 (a double prodrug) and VV251 have been developed. VV261 is currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS).

Other names

4'-fluorouridine4'-FlU