Famciclovir: profile and news

One-day, High-dose Famciclovir (Famvir) Therapy Cuts Healing Time ... 06 Mar 2006
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- March 6, 2006 -- A single high dose of famciclovir (Famvir) appears to reduce time to healing of herpes labialis vesicular lesions by 2 ... - DG News

Single-Dose Famvir(R) Treatment Found To Accelerate Healing Time ... Mar 3, 2006
...at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) annual meeting demonstrated that a single dose of the prescription antiviral Famvir(R) (famciclovir tablets) given ... - Finanzen.net,

Novartis: Strengthening Its Infectious Disease Portfolio Feb 9, 2006
Currently, Novartis' ID portfolio consists of antivirals, including Famvir (famciclovir) and Denavir (penciclovir), and antifungals, specifically Lamisil ... - International News Service,

Single-Day Famvir (Famciclovir) Treatment Found To Shorten the ... Jan 12, 2006
DORVAL, QUEBEC -- January 12, 2006 -- Results from a new study demonstrated that a single day of treatment with the antiviral Famvir* (famciclovir) stopped the ... - DG News

Novartis: strengthening its infectious disease portfolio Feb 7, 2006
Currently, Novartis' ID portfolio consists of antivirals, including Famvir (famciclovir) and Denavir (penciclovir), and antifungals, specifically Lamisil ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

Empiricus: our clinical journal commentator Jan 17, 2006
Two doses of famciclovir 1000mg taken on a single day speeds the healing of genital herpes and reduces the development of lesions beyond papule stage, a placebo ... - AustralianDoctor.com (subscription),

New Study Shows One Single Dose of Famvir Significantly Reduces ... Nov 9, 2005
DORVAL, QUEBEC -- November 9, 2005 -- Treatment with one single, 1500 mg dose of Famvir*(famciclovir) reduced healing time of herpes labialis lesions (cold ... - DG News

Avaian flu threat to stimulate antiviral market growth Nov 11, 2005
...generic presence is bound to increase significantly with expected US patent expiries of key HSV/VZV products: Valtrex in 2009 and Famvir (famciclovir) in 2010. ... - Pharmaceutical Business Review

e-coldsores.com Releases a Guide to Cold Sore Treatments Sep 29, 2005
...first. Cold sore medication such as acyclovir or famciclovir can provide pain relief and reduce the healing time of a cold sore. ... - Pressbox.co.uk (press release),

Photo Quiz: Inflammatory Lesions on Every Finger Jul 31, 2005
...also may occur.3 Treatment involves inhibition of viral replication with acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or famciclovir (Famvir); symptomatic pain ... - RedNova.com

Source: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Jul 25, 2005
Elephants with EEHV symptoms are immediately started on famciclovir (an anti-herpes drug used in humans) to increase their chance of survival. ... - Yahoo News (press release) <**results**>

Common skin conditions and treatments Jun 16, 2005
Treatment: Oral antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, are given. Famciclovir (Famvir) may significantly reduce pain and recovery time. ... - Louisville Courier-Journal,

Merck's Shingles Vaccine Reduced Incidence, Severity and Duration ... Jun 4, 2005
All subjects with clinically diagnosed shingles were offered antiviral treatment (famciclovir) when indicated or as appropriate and were offered standard-of ... - Medical News Today,

Treatment for post-op swollen arm usually for life Apr 28, 2005
I also had a cold sore on my lip. My doctor prescribed famciclovir. ... You do not have shingles or genital herpes. Famciclovir is also used for cold sores. ... - Yuma Sun,

Treatment for post-op swollen arm usually for life 28 Apr 2005
I also had a cold sore on my lip. My doctor prescribed famciclovir. ... You do not have shingles or genital herpes. Famciclovir is also used for cold sores. ... - Yuma Sun,

Other information

Indication
For the treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles); For the treatment or suppression of recurrent genital herpes in immunocompetent patients and treatment of recurrent mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV infected patients.

Pharmacology
Famciclovir is a prodrug that undergoes rapid biotransformation to the active antiviral compound penciclovir. Penciclovir is an anti-viral drug which has inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Therefore, herpes viral DNA synthesis and replication are selectively inhibited.

Mechanism Of Action
Famciclovir undergoes rapid biotransformation to the active antiviral compound penciclovir, which has inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). In cells infected with HSV-1, HSV-2 or VZV, viral thymidine kinase phosphorylates penciclovir to a monophosphate form that, in turn, is converted to penciclovir triphosphate by cellular kinases. In vitro studies demonstrate that penciclovir triphosphate inhibits HSV-2 DNA polymerase competitively with deoxyguanosine triphosphate. Consequently, herpes viral DNA synthesis and, therefore, replication are selectively inhibited.

Drug Category
Prodrugs; Antivirals; Nucleosides and Nucleotides (08:18.32); ATC:J05AB09; ATC:S01AD07

Brand Names/Synonyms
CHEMBANK1696; FCV; Famciclovir; Famciclovir 98.5; Famciclovir [Usan:Ban:Inn]; Famciclovirum [Inn-Latin]; Famvir

Dosage Forms
Tablet

Absorption
77%

Interactions
Interactions for Famciclovir:

Concurrent use with probenecid or other drugs significantly eliminated by active renal tubular secretion may result in increased plasma concentrations of penciclovir.

The conversion of 6-deoxy penciclovir to penciclovir is catalyzed by aldehyde oxidase. Interactions with other drugs metabolized by this enzyme could potentially occur.

Chemical IUPAC Name
[2-(acetyloxymethyl)-4-(2-aminopurin-9-yl)-butyl] acetate

Chemical Formula
C14H19N5O4

Half Life
10 hours

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00600

CAS Registry Number
104227-87-4