aciclovir cold sore cream

Aciclovir Cold Sore Cream is a topical antiviral formulation containing 5% aciclovir, developed by Altova Healthcare for the treatment of herpes labialis (cold sores) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Aciclovir is a synthetic purine nucleoside analogue that selectively inhibits viral DNA replication. Upon entering HSV-infected cells, aciclovir is phosphorylated by viral thymidine kinase to aciclovir monophosphate, which is subsequently converted to the active triphosphate form by host cellular enzymes. Aciclovir triphosphate acts as a competitive inhibitor and substrate for viral DNA polymerase, leading to its incorporation into the growing viral DNA chain and resulting in obligate chain termination. This topical cream is marketed in Australia and other regions to reduce the duration and severity of recurrent cold sores.

Brand names

AcivirBoots Antiviral Cold Sore CreamPinewood Cold Sore CreamVirasorb Cold Sore CreamZoviraxZovirax Cream

Other names

aciclovir 5% creamaciclovir cold sore creamaciclovir creamacyclovir 5% creamacyclovir cream