title: New antiviral nucleoside prodrugs await application.
abstract: In this review, we intend to highlight outstanding concepts of antiviral nucleoside prodrugs which have been developed in recent years, so as to improve the efficacy of a given antiviral drug or to overcome some drug deficiencies. Examples of antiviral carrier-linked nucleoside prodrugs or nucleoside bioprecursors are described, and their active mechanisms discussed. The described nucleoside prodrugs are classified in two structural classes: prodrugs bearing molecular modifications on the sugar moiety and prodrugs bearing molecular modifications on the nucleic base. Despite the important research work accomplished through out the world during the last few years in developing improved antiviral drugs for the treatment of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), HBV (hepatitis B virus), HCV (hepatitis C virus), HSV (herpes simplex virus), HCMV (human cytomegalovirus), etc infections, only few nucleoside antiviral prodrugs are marketed, while promising prodrugs deriving from original concepts were developed. The most relevant concepts are discussed: (1) - pronucleotide approach allows the design of prodrugs, which by-pass the first kinase phosphorylation step; (2) - drug design based on Bodor's concept for brain delivery improved drugs and (3) - 5'-O-carbonate nucleosides and deaminase approaches, which allow active drug regeneration. Nonetheless, none of these innovative models have reached the market.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie Biomoléculaire, INSERM U382, Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, Université de la Méditerranée, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, 163 avenue de Luminy, case 901, 13288 Marseille cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anastasi
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quéléver
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burlet
authors.forename: Cédrik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garino
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Souard
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009705:Nucleosides; D011355:Prodrugs