On the Verge of the 3000th Publication: Reflections on Deceptions, Successes and Perspectives
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: A lifelong career devoted to the development of specific antiviral agents eventually yielded, besides (almost) 3000 publications, about ten antiviral compounds that were approved and marketed as antiviral drugs, i.e., DHPA (Duviragel®), BVDU (Zostex®, Mevir®, Brivir®…), VACV (Zelitrex®, Valtrex®), d4T (Stavudine®), emivirine (Coactinon®), rilpivirine (Edurant®), HPMPC (Vistide®), PMEA (Hepsera®), tenofovir (Viread®) and AMD-3100 (Mozobil®), with the latter as a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizer. The targeted viruses for these compounds were herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV). For other viruses, such as filo-, rhabdo-, arena-, myxo-, polyoma- and papillomaviruses, strategies have been elaborated that should facilitate future developments of antiviral drugs.
Source: Molecules
Author: Erik De Clercq
Institutions: Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W7203780865
