Antiviral Drugs: From Basic Discovery Through Clinical Trials

Antiviral drugs, also called antiviral agents, are a group of substances that destroy viruses or inhibit their replication. This class of medications is used for the treatment or control of viral infections. The main targets of antiviral agents are specific events in the virus replication cycle. The target stages in the viral life cycle are based on the type of virus but they all follow the same pattern. These stages are viral attachment to host cell, uncoating, synthesis of viral mRNA, translation of mRNA, replication of viral RNA and DNA, maturation of new viral proteins, budding, release of newly synthesized virus, and free virus in body fluids. Toxicity and the development of resistance to the antiviral agent by the virus are two important factors that can limit the utility of antiviral drugs. This book contains a detailed account of antiviral drugs, their discovery and clinical trials. A number of latest researches have been included to keep the readers up-to-date with the global advancements in the field of antiviral drug development.