Vidarabine

Vidarabine (Ara-A) is a Purine nucleoside derivative and Antiviral agent. The triphosphate derivative of Vidarabine competitively inhibits DNA polymerase, incorporates into the terminus of elongating DNA molecules, and interferes with the early steps of viral DNA synthesis. Vidarabine inhibits the replication of herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and vaccinia virus, reduces viral shedding, and accelerates skin healing. Vidarabine is metabolized to arabinosyl hypoxanthine, causes minimal impairment of corneal wound healing in rabbit models, and is associated with recurrence of herpes simplex encephalitis. Vidarabine can be used in the research of herpetic keratoconjunctivitis, herpes simplex encephalitis, herpetic uveitis, and chronic active hepatitis associated with hepatitis B virus^[1][2][3]. In Vitro:Vidarabine inhibits herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus in in vitro cell culture systems^[1].
Vidarabine exerts its antiviral effect via phosphorylation to a triphosphate derivative that competitively inhibits DNA polymerase and is incorporated into terminal positions of growing DNA molecules^[1]. In Vivo:Vidarabine (3%; topical to the eye; four times daily) supports normal corneal epithelial wound healing in rabbits, with epithelial quality significantly superior to Idoxuridine (HY-B0307) and comparable to placebo^[1].