idoxuridine

drug

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Idoxuridine is an antiviral drug used to treat herpesvirus infections. It is a nucleoside analog, meaning it mimics natural nucleosides that are building blocks for DNA and RNA. Idoxuridine works by interfering with viral DNA replication. It is activated by cellular enzymes and incorporated into viral DNA, halting its synthesis. While effective against herpesviruses, it is less specific than some other antiviral drugs because it is activated by cellular enzymes rather than viral enzymes.1

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antiviral drug
Antiherpesvirus drugs
Other agents (idoxuridine) are activated by cellular enzymes, so these have less specificity. Non-nucleoside inhibitors of herpesvirus replication include foscarnet, which directly inhibits the viral DNA polymerase and thus blocks formation of new viral DNA.
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Other agents (idoxuridine) are activated by cellular enzymes, so these have less specificity. Non-nucleoside inhibitors of herpesvirus replication include foscarnet, which directly inhibits the viral DNA polymerase and thus blocks formation of new viral DNA.
Read More