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Biotech / Medical : Lidak Pharm. [LDAKA]
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To: Charles Holewinski who wrote (697)11/7/1997 10:23:00 AM
From: MCorbley  Read Replies (2) of 1115
 
I think that Valtrex is approved only for genital herpes infections and only for adults. It is taken internally as a pill. The drug itself is valacyclovir, a "prodrug" of acyclovir, which is marketed as Zovirax. "Prodrug" means that it is a chemical precursor of acyclovir which the body's normal metabolism converts to acyclovir. The advantage of Valtrex over acyclovir is greater "bioavailability." It is absorbed by the body more easily; consequently, you can take fewer pills for the same effect. Otherwise, I believe that there is no clinical difference.
Clinical trials comparing lidakol with acyclovir have shown lidakol to be at least as effective as the most potent preparations of acyclovir. Moreover, lidakol has some clear marketing advantages. First, valtrex, like acyclovir is a member of a chemical class known as nucleoside analogs. Nucleoside analogs are powerful drugs for powerful ailments and they may have unpredictable long term side effects. For something as relatively innocuous (in terms of overall health) as cold sores, I would much rather put a harmless cream on the sore than to put a nucleoside analog into my body. Secondly, valtrex will be ineffective against acyclovir-resistant strains of herpes which exist in the general population. Likdaol has been shown to be equally effective against normal or acyclovir-resistant herpes.

Michael Corbley
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