Letermovir and Maribavir for the Treatment and Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Solid Organ and Stem Cell Transplant Recipients. 2021

Hannah N Imlay, and Daniel R Kaul
University of Utah, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Until recently, available drugs for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention and treatment in transplant patients included (val)ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir. Use of these drugs is limited by toxicity and the development of resistance. The 2017 approval of letermovir for prevention of CMV after stem cell transplant marked the first approval of an anti-CMV agent since 2003. The role of letermovir in treatment of established CMV infection or disease remains largely unstudied, although early reports suggest that a low barrier to resistance will likely limit efficacy as primary therapy for patients with refractory or resistant disease. The investigational agent maribavir has shown promise as preemptive treatment; in patients with refractory or resistant disease the emergence of resistance while on treatment has been observed and ongoing studies will define efficacy in this population. Both agents have unique mechanisms of action limiting cross resistance, and neither exhibit myelotoxicity or nephrotoxicity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011799 Quinazolines A group of aromatic heterocyclic compounds that contain a bicyclic structure with two fused six-membered aromatic rings, a benzene ring and a pyrimidine ring. Quinazoline
D003586 Cytomegalovirus Infections Infection with CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, characterized by enlarged cells bearing intranuclear inclusions. Infection may be in almost any organ, but the salivary glands are the most common site in children, as are the lungs in adults. CMV Inclusion,CMV Inclusions,Congenital CMV Infection,Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection,Cytomegalic Inclusion Disease,Cytomegalovirus Colitis,Cytomegalovirus Inclusion,Cytomegalovirus Inclusion Disease,Cytomegalovirus Inclusions,Inclusion Disease,Perinatal CMV Infection,Perinatal Cytomegalovirus Infection,Renal Tubular Cytomegalovirus Inclusion,Renal Tubular Cytomegalovirus Inclusions,Salivary Gland Virus Disease,Severe Cytomegalovirus Infection,Severe Cytomegalovirus Infections,Infections, Cytomegalovirus,CMV Infection, Congenital,CMV Infection, Perinatal,Colitis, Cytomegalovirus,Congenital CMV Infections,Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infections,Cytomegalic Inclusion Diseases,Cytomegalovirus Colitides,Cytomegalovirus Inclusion Diseases,Cytomegalovirus Infection,Cytomegalovirus Infection, Congenital,Cytomegalovirus Infection, Perinatal,Cytomegalovirus Infection, Severe,Cytomegalovirus Infections, Severe,Disease, Cytomegalic Inclusion,Disease, Cytomegalovirus Inclusion,Diseases, Cytomegalovirus Inclusion,Inclusion Disease, Cytomegalic,Inclusion Disease, Cytomegalovirus,Inclusion Diseases,Inclusion Diseases, Cytomegalovirus,Inclusion, CMV,Inclusion, Cytomegalovirus,Infection, Congenital CMV,Infection, Congenital Cytomegalovirus,Infection, Cytomegalovirus,Infection, Perinatal CMV,Infection, Perinatal Cytomegalovirus,Infection, Severe Cytomegalovirus,Perinatal CMV Infections,Perinatal Cytomegalovirus Infections
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000085 Acetates Derivatives of ACETIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxymethane structure. Acetate,Acetic Acid Esters,Acetic Acids,Acids, Acetic,Esters, Acetic Acid
D000998 Antiviral Agents Agents used in the prophylaxis or therapy of VIRUS DISEASES. Some of the ways they may act include preventing viral replication by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase; binding to specific cell-surface receptors and inhibiting viral penetration or uncoating; inhibiting viral protein synthesis; or blocking late stages of virus assembly. Antiviral,Antiviral Agent,Antiviral Drug,Antivirals,Antiviral Drugs,Agent, Antiviral,Agents, Antiviral,Drug, Antiviral,Drugs, Antiviral
D001562 Benzimidazoles Compounds with a BENZENE fused to IMIDAZOLES.
D012263 Ribonucleosides Nucleosides in which the purine or pyrimidine base is combined with ribose. (Dorland, 28th ed)
D018380 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Transfer of HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS from BONE MARROW or BLOOD between individuals within the same species (TRANSPLANTATION, HOMOLOGOUS) or transfer within the same individual (TRANSPLANTATION, AUTOLOGOUS). Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been used as an alternative to BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION in the treatment of a variety of neoplasms. Stem Cell Transplantation, Hematopoietic,Transplantation, Hematopoietic Stem Cell
D024882 Drug Resistance, Viral The ability of viruses to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents or antiviral agents. This resistance is acquired through gene mutation. Antiviral Drug Resistance,Antiviral Drug Resistances,Drug Resistances, Viral
D066027 Transplant Recipients Individuals receiving tissues or organs transferred from another individual of the same or different species, or from within the same individual. Recipient, Transplant,Recipients, Transplant,Transplant Recipient

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