Penciclovir

penciclovir
IUPAC name: see chemistry Synonyms: PE2, penciclovirum Formula: C10H15N5O3
Uses:	herpes viruses
Properties:	guanosine analog
Hazards:	see drug interactions
Mass (g/mol): CAS #: 253.2578 84625-61-6

Penciclovir (PE2) or penciclovirum, is a guanosine analog, antiviral drug used to treat herpesviruses and is the active metabolite of the prodrug famciclovir. It is sold under the brand name Denavir®. The longer half-life of penciclovir triphosphate in herpes-infected cells (10-20 hrs), compared to that of acyclovir (0,7 -1 hr), may be responsible for its ehanced results. The triphosphate form competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for incorporation into viral DNA. It only effects DNA synthesis of only those cells infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Chemistry

The IUPAC chemical name of penciclovir is 2-amino-9-[4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]-3H-purin-6-one, and it has chemical formula C₁₀H₁₅N₅O₃, giving it a molecular mass of 253.2578 g/mol. It is an analog of the natural nucleotide guanosine. The prodrug famciclovir is an analog of this drug.

External links

• Penciclovir - FDA approved drug information (drug label) from DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
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