Description
Vidarabine is a long-acting antiviral originally found in the marine sponge Tethyra crypta. Vidarabine is an adenosine analog in which the D-ribose constituent is replaced by D-arabinose, preventing formation of phosphodiester bridges upon incorporation into DNA. This compound is a substrate for and inhibitor of viral DNA polymerase and may also inhibit ribonucleotide reductase. Vidarabine is used to treat subjects with severe chronic Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, or human papilloma virus, as well as immunocompromised patients with adenovirus-induced hemorrhagic cystitis.