maribavir

Maribavir is an oral small molecule antiviral of the benzimidazole riboside class, used for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in patients who have received a transplant and whose infection is refractory to conventional antivirals such as ganciclovir, valganciclovir, cidofovir, or foscarnet[1][2][5][7]. Unlike other CMV therapies that target viral DNA polymerase, maribavir selectively inhibits the CMV pUL97 serine/threonine protein kinase. This inhibition disrupts phosphorylation events essential for viral DNA replication, encapsidation, nuclear egress of viral capsids, and release from infected cells[2][5][6][8]. Maribavir also shows activity against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by inhibiting its DNA polymerase processivity factor BMRF1 and reducing certain EBV glycoproteins[8]. The drug was developed as an alternative for cases where resistance or toxicity limits standard treatments. It is approved for use in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years or older weighing at least 35 kg with post-transplant CMV infection/disease refractory to prior therapy[3].

Brand names

Livtencity

Other names

maribavir