title: Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates: a key class of antiviral drugs.
abstract: Almost 20 years after the broad antiviral activity spectrum of the first acyclic nucleoside phosphonates was described, several of these compounds have become important therapies for DNA virus and retrovirus infections. Here, we review the discovery and development of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, focusing on cidofovir and its potential in the treatment of various herpes-, papilloma-, polyoma-, adeno- and pox-virus infections, adefovir for the treatment of hepatitis B and tenofovir for the treatment of AIDS and the prevention of HIV infections.
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. erik.declercq@rega.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: Antonín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holý
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009705:Nucleosides; D063065:Organophosphonates