Work

Prodrug approaches to improving the oral absorption of antiviral nucleotide analogues

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: Nucleotide analogues have been well accepted as therapeutic agents active against a number of viruses. However, their use as antiviral agents is limited by the need for phosphorylation by endogenous enzymes, and if the analogue is orally administered, by low bioavailability due to the presence of an ionizable diacid group. To circumvent these limitations, a number of prodrug approaches have been proposed. The ideal prodrug achieves delivery of a parent drug by attachment of a non-toxic moiety that is stable during transport and delivery, but is readily cleaved to release the parent drug once at the target. Here, a brief overview of several promising prodrug strategies currently under development is given.

Source: Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery

DOI: 10.1517/17425240902824808

Authors: Larryn W Peterson, Charles E McKenna

Institution: University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Drug Solubulity and Delivery Systems

Subfield: Pharmaceutical Science

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases