Antiviral drugs: Present status and future prospects

Abstract

• 1.

  1. There is a limited number of antiviral drugs available for therapy. Many investigations and new analytical techniques have unraveled the development and progression of a viral infection. Nowadays there is a good understanding of the multiplication cycle of viruses, including the human immunodeficiency virus.

• 2.

  2. In this article the currently available antiviral drugs are presented arranged by their mode of action that can be understood by the multiplication cycle of the virus.

• 3.

  3. Clinical use and side-effects are discussed as well as place in current therapy. Some attention is paid on promising investigational antivirals.