Novel compounds for the treatment of varicella–zoster virus infections

Abstract

This review discusses patents and publications related to recently identified compounds with the potential for development as novel anti-varicella–zoster (anti-VZV) virus therapies. The current repertoire of approved anti-VZV drugs consists primarily of nucleoside analogues that inhibit viral replication by targeting the virus-encoded DNA polymerase. However, because nucleoside analogues share a similar mechanism of action, treatment options are limited once resistance develops. This becomes an important medical issue with respect to the treatment of disease caused by resistant viral strains, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, several of the currently available therapies can result in mild to severe side effects making the discovery of less toxic drugs desirable. Efforts over the last decade have focused on the identification and development of improved herpes-viral therapies including less toxic compounds with novel mechanisms of action. Recent drug discovery efforts have yielded several compounds that may warrant further development as anti-VZV chemotherapeutic agents.

• antiviral
• bicyclic pyrimidine nucleoside analogue (BCNA)
• carboxamide
• herpesvirus
• thiourea
• varicellazoster virus