sorivudine

Sorivudine is a synthetic pyrimidine nucleoside analogue antiviral drug primarily developed for the treatment of herpesvirus infections, including varicella zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)[1][3][4]. It acts as an antimetabolite by being selectively phosphorylated by viral thymidine kinase and incorporated into viral DNA, where it competitively inhibits DNA polymerase, thereby blocking viral DNA replication[1][3]. Sorivudine demonstrates significantly higher potency against VZV compared to acyclovir and offers improved oral bioavailability with less frequent dosing requirements[4]. However, its clinical use was withdrawn due to fatal drug-drug interactions with fluorouracil (5-FU) and related compounds; its metabolite bromovinyluracil irreversibly inhibits dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), leading to toxic accumulation of 5-FU[1][3][4].

Brand names

UsevirBrovavir

Other names

1-β-d-arabinofuranosyl-E-5-[2-bromovinyl]uracil