title: RNA as a target for developing antivirals.
abstract: The base of knowledge concerning RNA structure and function has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Simultaneously, an increasing awareness of the pivotal role RNA plays in viral diseases has prompted many researchers to apply new technologies in high-throughput screening and molecular modelling to the design of antiviral drugs that target RNA. While the two RNA viruses with the greatest unmet medical need, HIV and HCV, have been most actively pursued, the approaches discussed in this review are relevant to all virus infections. Both traditional small-molecule and large-molecule therapeutics, such as antisense, ribozymes and interfering dsRNAs have been described, and several molecules are under development for commercialization. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of the art in this field and to postulate new directions in the future.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Ind., USA. kevin.mcknight@lilly.com
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: McKnight
authors.forename: Beverly A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Heinz
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001483:Base Sequence; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012367:RNA, Viral