1-[(2R,4R,5S)-4-Azido-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-YL]-5-methyl-pyrimidine-2,4-dione

DescriptionZidovudine, also known as azidothymidine (AZT), is an antiviral agent acting via reverse transcnptase inhibition. It was first launched in the U.K. and subsequently introduced in over a dozen countries for the management of severe manifestations of HIV infection. In patients with AIDS and ARC, zidovudine reduces the risk of opportunistic infections and prolongs survival time. In symptom-free patients it shows promise in halting further immunological deterioration.

UsesA potent and selective inhibitor of HIV-1 replication

UsesZidovudine is an antiretroviral drug that is clinically active against HIV-1 and is intended to treat HIV-infected patients. Zidovudine is an analog of thymidine that inhibits replication of the AIDS virus. It also turned into mono-, di-, and triphosphates by the same cellular enzymes that catalyze phosphorylation of thymidine and thymidine nucleosides. Zidovudine-triphosphate is then included in the terminal fragment of the growing chain of viral DNA by viral reverse transcriptase, thus causing the viral DNA chain to break apart in cells infected with the virus. Zidovudine has been authorized for treating patients with AIDS. It significantly prolongs the life of the patient, although it has a number of toxic effects. Synonyms of this drug are azidothymidine and retrovir.

General DescriptionSlightly off-white odorless powdery solid.

General DescriptionZidovudine, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine or AZT, is ananalog of thymidine that possesses antiviral activityagainst HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-1, and several other retroviruses.This nucleoside was synthesized in 1978 by Linand Prusoff as an intermediate in the preparation ofamino acid analogs of thymidine. A screening program directedtoward the identification of agents potentially effectivefor the treatment of patients with AIDS led to the discoveryof its unique antiviral properties 7 years later.Zidovudine is recommended for the management of adultpatients with symptomatic HIV infection (AIDS or ARC)who have a history of confirmed Pneumocystis carinii pneumoniaor an absolute CD4+(T4 or TH cell) lymphocytecount below 200/mm3 before therapy. The hematologicaltoxicity of the drug precludes its use in asymptomatic patients.Anemia and granulocytopenia are the most commontoxic effects associated with AZT.

General DescriptionZidovudine, or 3u-azido-3udeoxythymidine, formerly known as azidothymidine (AZT; BW A509U), is an analog of the nucleoside thymidine. It is an inhibitor of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-encoded enzyme reverse transcriptase. It was the first antiretroviral compound to be licenced for the treatment of people infected with HIV. The compound was synthesized much earlier, however, by Horwitz and colleagues and subsequently used in anticancer research. Zidovudine was developed by Burroughs Wellcome and is now marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the trade name of Retrovir. Zidovudine is also available in fixed-dose cominations with other nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors as Combivir (zidovudine with lamivudine) and Trizivir (zidovudine with lamivudine and abacavir). Generic forms of the drug have been produced by a number of companies and include AVIRO-Z (Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd) and Zidovir (Cipla Ltd). There are also a number of generic fixed-dose products including zidovudine with lamivudine (e.g. Duovir; Cipla Ltd). Zidovudine is indicated for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection, generally given in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

DefinitionChEBI: Zidovudine is a pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxyribonucleoside compound having a 3'-azido substituent and thymine as the nucleobase. It has a role as an antimetabolite, an antiviral drug and a HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor. It is an azide and a pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxyribonucleoside.