Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LETERMOVIR versus ZOVIRAX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: LETERMOVIR versus ZOVIRAX.
LETERMOVIR vs ZOVIRAX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Letermovir is an antiviral agent that inhibits the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) terminase complex, specifically the pUL56 subunit, thereby preventing viral DNA processing and packaging.
After intracellular phosphorylation to acyclovir triphosphate, selectively inhibits viral DNA polymerase and incorporates into viral DNA, causing chain termination.
480 mg orally once daily (two 240 mg tablets).
Herpes simplex: 200 mg orally 5 times daily for 10 days; or 400 mg orally 3 times daily for 5-10 days. Herpes zoster: 800 mg orally 5 times daily for 7-10 days. IV: 5-10 mg/kg every 8 hours for immunocompromised patients with HSV/VZV.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateLetermovir + Teriflunomide
"The serum concentration of Teriflunomide can be increased when it is combined with Letermovir."
Clinical Note
moderateLetermovir + Haloperidol
"The metabolism of Haloperidol can be decreased when combined with Letermovir."
Clinical Note
moderateLetermovir + Clotrimazole
"The metabolism of Clotrimazole can be decreased when combined with Letermovir."
Clinical Note
moderateLetermovir + Dronedarone
The terminal elimination half-life is approximately 12 hours (range 10–18 hours) in healthy subjects, allowing once-daily dosing.
Terminal elimination half-life is 2.5-3.3 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 19.5 hours in anuria (creatinine clearance <10 mL/min).
Letermovir is primarily eliminated via biliary/fecal excretion (approximately 93% of the dose recovered in feces, with <2% as unchanged drug) and renal excretion accounts for <7% (mostly as metabolites, <1% unchanged).
Renal excretion of unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion accounts for 76-82% of elimination; fecal excretion is less than 2%.
Category C
Category C
Antiviral
Antiviral
"The metabolism of Dronedarone can be decreased when combined with Letermovir."