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Pharmacology: Acyclovir is an antiviral agent which is highly active in vitro against herpes simplex virus (HSV) types I and II and varicella zoster virus. Toxicity to mammalian host cells is low.
Acyclovir is phosphorylated after entry into herpes-infected cells to the active compound acyclovir triphosphate. The 1st step in this process is dependent on the presence of the viral-coded thymidine kinase. Acyclovir triphosphate acts as an inhibitor of and substrate for the herpes-specified DNA polymerase preventing further viral DNA synthesis without affecting normal cellular processes.
