New Paradigm for Developing Antiviral Drugs

One of the most important challenges for human health in this century and beyond is the development of effective strategies to overcome viral diseases. This book presents a novel approach to antiviral drug discovery based on the fundamental difference in substrate selectivity between viral and human nucleic acid polymerases. By taking advantage of this difference, modified nucleosides can be designed to selectively inhibit viral replication while maintaining low toxicity toward human cells. The book describes the discovery and development of EFdA, a breakthrough anti-HIV nucleoside that prevents the emergence of resistant HIV mutants, demonstrates activity several orders of magnitude greater than existing clinical anti-HIV drugs, and exhibits remarkably low toxicity. Beyond these scientific achievements, the book provides valuable insight into the process of innovation and the generation of new research ideas. As Albert von Szent-Györgyi stated, "Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought," and as Louis Pasteur observed, "Chance favors the prepared mind." This book illustrates how knowledge, curiosity, and creativity.