Penciclovir

Penciclovir
Clinical data
Pronunciation/ˌpɛnˈsaɪkloʊˌvɪər/[1]
Trade namesDenavir
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa697027
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B1
Routes of
administration		Topical
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability1.5% (oral), negligible (topical)
Protein binding<20%
MetabolismViral thymidine kinase
Elimination half-life2.2–2.3 hours
ExcretionRenal
Identifiers
  • 2-amino-9-[4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]-1H-purin-6(9H)-one
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.189.687 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC10H15N5O3
Molar mass253.262 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Melting point275 to 277 °C (527 to 531 °F)
  • O=C2/N=C(\Nc1n(cnc12)CCC(CO)CO)N
  • InChI=1S/C10H15N5O3/c11-10-13-8-7(9(18)14-10)12-5-15(8)2-1-6(3-16)4-17/h5-6,16-17H,1-4H2,(H3,11,13,14,18) checkY
  • Key:JNTOCHDNEULJHD-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  (verify)

Penciclovir is a guanosine analogue antiviral drug used for the treatment of various herpesvirus infections. It is a nucleoside analogue which exhibits low toxicity and good selectivity. Because penciclovir is absorbed poorly when given orally (by mouth) it is more often used as a topical treatment. It is the active ingredient in the cold sore medications Denavir (NDC 0135-0315-52), Vectavir and Fenivir. Famciclovir is a prodrug of penciclovir with improved oral bioavailability.

Penciclovir was approved for medical use in 1996.[2]

  1. ^ "Penciclovir". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  2. ^ Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG (2012). Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Disease. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 1502. ISBN 978-1437727029.