[A synthetic analog of the nucleoside thymidine with antiviral activity. Brivudine is selectively taken up by herpes simplex-1 (HSV-1) infected cells and undergoes phosphorylation by the viral deoxythymidine kinase to its active mono- and triphosphate forms. Once in its active form, brivudine is incorporated into the viral DNA and subsequently inhibits the actions of DNA polymerases, resulting in an inhibitory effect on viral replication. ( NCI )]
UMLS (NCI) C0163272 - Nucleic Acid, Nucleoside, or Nucleotide
- Pharmacologic Substance