Zalcitabine

Zalcitabine is an orally active dideoxynucleoside andog for combination use with zidovudine in advanced HIV infection and also as monotherapy for AIDS patients who cannot tolerate or have not responded to zidovudine. It has a similar mechanism of action (inhibition of reverse transcriptase) to didanosine. Like didanosine, its side effect profile includes peripheral neuropathy. Unlike zidovudine, zalcitabine does not cause bone marrow suppression.

Zalcitabine is an analog of pyrimidine derived from deoxycytidine with the replacement of the hydroxyl group in position 3’ with a hydrogen. In cells, it is phosphorylated to the active triphosphate form, ddCTP, which acts as a substrate for HIV reverse transcriptase (Ki= 51 nM). It incorporates into viral DNA where it terminates chain elongation when the missing hydroxyl group is encountered. Zalcitabine was the third antiretroviral approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.

White to Off-White Cyrstalline Powder

ChEBI: A pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxyribonucleoside compound having cytosine as the nucleobase.

Zalcitabine, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine or ddCyd, is an analog ofcytosine that demonstrates activity against HIV-1 and HIV-2,including strains resistant to AZT. The potency (in peripheralblood mononuclear cells) is similar to that of AZT, but thedrug is more active in populations of monocytes andmacrophages as well as in resting cells.The oral bioavailability of zalcitabine is over 80% in adultsand less in children.The major dose-limiting side effect isperipheral neuropathy, characterized by pain, paresthesias,and hypesthesia, beginning in the distal lower extremities.These side effects are typically evident after several months oftherapy with zalcitabine. A potentially fatal pancreatitis is anothertoxic effect of treatment with ddC. The drug has beenapproved for the treatment of HIV infection in adults with advanceddisease who are intolerant to AZT or who have diseaseprogression while receiving AZT. ddC is combined with AZTfor the treatment of advanced HIV infection.

ammonia detoxicant, diagnostic aid

A pyrimidine nucleoside analogue with antiviral activity.