Ganciclovir (INN) is an antiviral medication used to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. Ganciclovir is a synthetic analogue of 2′-deoxy-guanosine. It is first phosphorylated to ganciclovir monophosphate by a viral kinase encoded by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) gene UL97 during infection. Subsequently, cellular kinases catalyze the formation of ganciclovir diphosphate and ganciclovir triphosphate, which is present in 10-fold greater concentrations in CMV or herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells than uninfected cells. A prodrug form with improved oral bioavailability (valganciclovir) has also been developed.
A correlation was found between the dose of ganciclovir exposure and a decrease in total cell number when duration exceeded 2 days (r(2)=0.92 and 0.93 after 7 and 14 days, respectively). High levels (20 mg/l) of ganciclovir were not more toxic than lowest levels (1 mg/l) for the shortest durations of ganciclovir exposure (1 and 2 days). Moreover, 50% cytotoxic concentrations markedly decreased with the duration of ganciclovir exposure (374-3 mg/l from 1 to 14 days respectively) after 14 days of culture._x000D_
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Reference: Antivir Chem Chemother. 2009;19(6):257-62. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/095632020901900605?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Ganciclovir (GCV)-treated CMV-infected mice had lower ABR (P < 0.0001, Kruskal-Wallis test) and DPOAE (P < 0.0001) thresholds compared to CMV-infected untreated mice, indicating that GCV protected mice from CMV-induced hearing loss. Viral load in infected populations undergoing GCV treatment was significantly decreased (P = 0.03) relative to untreated mice. GCV treatment alone had no effect on ABR and DPOAE compared to untreated, uninfected controls (P = 0.1, P = 0.24, respectively). GCV-treated mice received increased protection from OHC loss when compared to untreated groups, with total OHC losses of approximately 7% and 14%, respectively (P < 0.05). Neutropenia was absent after 7 days of GCV treatment._x000D_
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Reference: Laryngoscope. 2020 Apr;130(4):1064-1069. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.28134
Ganciclovir (RS-21592, BW-759, 2'-Nor-2'-deoxyguanosine) is an antiviral drug for feline herpesvirus type-1 with IC50 of 5.2 μM in a cell-free assay.
