Cidofovir: a new drug to combat CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS

Abstract

Cidofovir is an analogue of monophosphate nucleotide which is phosphorylated by cellular enzymes into its active diphophate form. This active form inhibits viral DNA polymerase.1 Cidofovir is active against human cytomegalo virus (CMV) and is indicated for the treatment of CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS. Cidofovir is also being investigated for its therapeutic role in other viral diseases like herpes simplex, adenovirus, varicella zoster and human papilloma virus.

At present, in the United States it is being used for the management of AIDS while in European Union it is under regulatory review.