Indication: For the treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles); For the treatment or suppression of recurrent genital herpes in immunocompetent patients and treatment of recurrent mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV infected patients.
Pharmacology: Famciclovir is a prodrug that undergoes rapid biotransformation to the active antiviral compound penciclovir. Penciclovir is an anti-viral drug which has inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Therefore, herpes viral DNA synthesis and replication are selectively inhibited.
Mechanism Of Action: Famciclovir undergoes rapid biotransformation to the active antiviral compound penciclovir, which has inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). In cells infected with HSV-1, HSV-2 or VZV, viral thymidine kinase phosphorylates penciclovir to a monophosphate form that, in turn, is converted to penciclovir triphosphate by cellular kinases. In vitro studies demonstrate that penciclovir triphosphate inhibits HSV-2 DNA polymerase competitively with deoxyguanosine triphosphate. Consequently, herpes viral DNA synthesis and, therefore, replication are selectively inhibited.
Drug Category: Prodrugs; Antivirals; Nucleosides and Nucleotides (08:18.32); ATC:J05AB09; ATC:S01AD07
Interactions:
DrugBank: Interactions for Famciclovir
Interactions for Famciclovir:
Concurrent use with probenecid or other drugs significantly eliminated by active renal tubular secretion may
result in increased plasma concentrations of penciclovir.
The conversion of 6-deoxy penciclovir to penciclovir is catalyzed by aldehyde oxidase. Interactions with other
drugs metabolized by this enzyme could potentially occur.
Chemical IUPAC Name: [2-(acetyloxymethyl)-4-(2-aminopurin-9-yl)-butyl] acetate
