The Discovery of Antiviral Agents: Ten Different Compounds, Ten Different Stories

This review article, while autobiographical to some extent, describes the discovery often (classes of) antiviral compounds that have made (or just did not make) it to the market for the therapy of viral infections, but each in its own way influenced the landscape of our dealing with virus infections: (i) valaciclovir, (ii) BVDU, (iii) DHPA, (iv) cidofovir, (v) adefovir, (vi) tenofovir, (vii) stavudine, (viii) HEPT, (ix) TIBO, and (x) AMD3100. Successful drug development, as is certainly true for antiviral drugs and exemplified for the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates cidofovir, adefovir and tenofovir, requires patience and perseverance, and a close continuous and dedicated interaction between Chemistry, Biology/Medicine and Industry. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 28, No. 6, 929-953, 2008