acyclovir

**Acyclovir** is a synthetic guanine nucleoside analogue antiviral drug originally developed by GSK and widely available as branded and generic products. It is selectively activated in herpesvirus-infected cells by viral thymidine kinase and subsequently converted by host enzymes to acyclovir triphosphate. The active metabolite competitively inhibits herpesvirus DNA polymerase and causes viral DNA-chain termination, suppressing replication of herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and varicella-zoster virus. It is used systemically and topically for herpes simplex infections, genital herpes, herpes zoster, varicella, herpes labialis, severe mucocutaneous herpesvirus infection in immunocompromised patients, and severe invasive HSV disease including HSV encephalitis and neonatal herpes. ([dailymed.nlm.nih.gov](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0910335b-6796-459f-b97e-d7ef5439a060))

Brand names

ZoviraxSitavig

Other names

aciclovirACVacycloguanosine9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine阿昔洛韦