Antiviral Activities and Pharmacokinetics of Penciclovir and Famciclovir in Pekin Ducks Chronically Infected with Duck Hepatitis B Virus

• Published in: Antiviral chemistry & chemotherapy Vol. 7; no. 3; pp. 153 - 159
• Main Authors: Tsiquaye, K.N., Sutton, D., Maung, M., Boyd, M.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.1996; International Medical Press; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiviral agents; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical trials; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA polymerase; DNA-directed DNA polymerase; duck hepatitis B virus; Famciclovir; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Medical sciences; Penciclovir; Pharmacokinetics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Replication; penciclovir; hepatitis; antiviral; famciclovir; Oral administration; Hepatic disease; Duck hepatitis virus; Virus; Infection; Hepatitis; Vertebrata; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Hepadnaviridae; Animal; Digestive diseases; Antiviral; Duck; Aves; Pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 2040-2066; 0956-3202; 2040-2066
• DOI: 10.1177/095632029600700305

Famciclovir (FCV) is the oral form of the potent and selective antiherpesvirus agent penciclovir (PCV). In order to provide more information on the spectrum of activity of PCV, the activities of FCV and PCV against duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) in chronically infected ducks were examined. As part of this investigation, the oral pharmacokinetics of FCV and PCV were determined in ducks. Oral treatment of DHBV-infected ducks (twice daily for 21 days) with either PCV (20 mg kg−1 or 100 mg kg−1) or FCV (5 mg kg−1 or 25 mg kg−1) suppressed virus replication, as measured by both plasma viral DNA and DNA polymerase levels. Both markers were reduced to undetectable levels within 4 days of the start of treatment, and after the cessation of treatment there was a delay of 2 to 8 days before plasma DHBV DNA and DNA polymerase levels began to increase, indicating that virus replication had resumed. The demonstration of efficacy of PCV and its oral form FCV against DHBV suggested that the two compounds may have clinical benefits. against human hepatitis B virus. Clinical trials are currently ongoing.