ACTIVITY OF PENCICLOVIR AGAINST EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS

Penciclovir inhibited the productive replication cycle of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in assays measuring infectious virus production, viral antigen expression, and viral DNA synthesis. In the test measuring inhibition of EBV DNA synthesis, 50% effective concentrations of penciclovir and acyclovir were 2.3 +/- 0.8 and 2.2 +/- 0.6 mu g/ml, respectively. The 50% cell growth inhibitory concentration of penciclovir was >100 mu g/ml for both P(3)HR-1 and Raji cells. Penciclovir is a selective inhibitor of EBV in cell culture.