artesunate + valganciclovir

**Artesunate + valganciclovir** is an experimental combination therapy consisting of two antiviral drugs: artesunate, an antimalarial agent with demonstrated in vitro and investigational antiviral activity, and valganciclovir, an approved antiviral prodrug of ganciclovir. This combination is currently being investigated for refractory or drug-resistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in immunocompromised patients such as solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Artesunate inhibits early steps of viral DNA replication and has shown additive or synergistic effects with ganciclovir in vitro, potentially allowing lower doses of ganciclovir (and reduced dose-limiting hematologic toxicity). Valganciclovir is converted to ganciclovir in the body and acts as a viral DNA polymerase inhibitor[1][3][4].