Acyclovir: An In-Depth Review
Acyclovir is a synthetic purine nucleoside analogue, derived from guanine, primarily used as an antiviral agent against the Herpesviridae family, notably herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It operates by selectively inhibiting viral DNA synthesis, thus interrupting replication within infected host cells. Introduced in the late 1970s, Acyclovir revolutionised herpesvirus management and remains a cornerstone of antiviral pharmacotherapy due to its high specificity and low host cell toxicity.
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