210 articles
Abametapir
Abametapir (HA-44, Xeglyze/XEGLYZE) is a 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine metalloproteinase-inhibitor pediculicide; a 0.74% lotion FDA-approved in 2020 for single-application head lice treatment.
Acetarsone
Acetarsone (acetarsol, stovarsol), a pentavalent organoarsenical antiprotozoal drug discovered by Ernest Fourneau in 1921, used against amebiasis and syphilis, now withdrawn from the market.
Aciclovir
Aciclovir (acyclovir, Zovirax) is an acyclic nucleoside antiviral for cold sores, shingles, chickenpox, genital herpes, and HSV eye infections; activated by viral thymidine kinase, it inhibits herpesvirus DNA polymerase with 300-3000-fold selectivity.
Acrisorcin
Acrisorcin (Akrinol) is a topical anti-infective, a 1:1 compound of 4-hexylresorcinol and 9-aminoacridine, CAS 7527-91-5, used as a fungicide and first approved 1982; distinct from acrinol (ethacridine).
Ainuovirine
Ainuovirine (ANV, 艾诺韦林; development code ACC007) is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor developed by Jiangsu Aidea Pharmaceutical that blocks HIV replication, approved in China in 2021 for HIV-1.
Ainuovirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Ainuovirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (艾诺米替片, Fubangde, ACC008) is a Chinese three-drug single-tablet HIV-1 regimen by Jiangsu Aidea, NMPA-approved late 2022, guideline-listed 2024, noninferior to INSTI regimens in switch therapy.
Albuvirtide
Albuvirtide (ABT, Aikening, FB006M) is a long-acting injectable HIV-1 fusion inhibitor peptide from Frontier Biotechnologies, albumin-binding via MPA, half-life 10-13 days, approved in China and Malaysia.
Alfosbuvir
Alfosbuvir (奥磷布韦, trade name Shennuodi) is a Chinese Class-1 NS5B nucleotide inhibitor for chronic HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, 6, approved by NMPA in May 2023 for use with daclatasvir, achieving 98.2% SVR12 in phase 3.
Alisporivir
Alisporivir (Debio 025, DEB025) is a non-immunosuppressive oral cyclophilin A inhibitor derived from cyclosporine A, developed as a pangenotypic host-targeting antiviral for hepatitis C; FDA halted trials after fatal pancreatitis cases.
Amenamevir
Amenamevir (ASP2151, Amenalief) is a helicase-primase inhibitor antiviral discovered by Astellas, approved in Japan for herpes zoster at 400 mg once daily for 7 days, marketed by Maruho; development outside Japan was suspended in 2011.
Amorolfine
Amorolfine (Loceryl, Curanail) is a morpholine antifungal used as a 5% once- or twice-weekly nail lacquer for mild onychomycosis; it inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis, is approved in Europe and Australia but not the US FDA, and cures roughly half of treated cases.
Amoscanate (nithiocyamine)
Amoscanate (nithiocyamine, CGP 4540), a Ciba-Geigy isothiocyanate diphenylamine antischistosomal drug, was widely used against S. japonicum in China but limited by liver damage and cardiac arrhythmias; superseded by praziquantel.
Amphotericin B
Amphotericin B (AmB, Fungizone, AmBisome) is a polyene antifungal antibiotic from Streptomyces nodosus, licensed 1959, that binds fungal ergosterol; nephrotoxic deoxycholate form largely superseded by safer lipid formulations.
Antaitasvir phosphate capsules
Antaitasvir phosphate capsules (磷酸萘坦司韦胶囊, netanasvir phosphate, trade name 东卫卓) is a Chinese Class 1 NS5A-inhibitor drug approved by NMPA in February 2025, used with yiqibuvir for genotype 1, 2, 3, 6 chronic hepatitis C.
Antifungal
Antifungals are antimicrobial drugs (azoles, echinocandins, polyenes, terbinafine, flucytosine, ibrexafungerp) that target fungal ergosterol, its synthesis, or the cell wall. Only three main classes treat invasive infections, and resistance is rising.
Antiviral drug
An antiviral drug, also called an antiviral medication, is a medication used to treat or prevent viral infections by interfering with stages of the viral life cycle.
Antiviral therapy
Antiviral therapy: drug treatment of viral infections, from idoxuridine (1963) and aciclovir to HIV combination therapy, hepatitis C DAAs, and emerging broad-spectrum, host-targeting, and CRISPR-Cas approaches.
Apricitabine
Apricitabine (ATC; formerly AVX754, SPD754, BCH10618) is an investigational deoxycytidine analogue NRTI for HIV-1, active against M184V and thymidine analogue mutation virus; Avexa halted its phase III development in 2010 without approval.
Arteether (alpha/beta-arteether)
Alpha/beta-arteether (E-Mal) is an Indian-developed, oil-based intramuscular artemisinin derivative from CSIR-CDRI and CIMAP, licensed to Themis Medicare in 1997, used as second-line injectable treatment for chloroquine-resistant and cerebral falciparum malaria.
Artemether-lumefantrine
Artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem, 复方蒿甲醚) is a fixed-dose artemisinin-based combination therapy, 20 mg/120 mg tablets in a six-dose regimen, the most widely used WHO-recommended treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
Artemisinin (青蒿素)
Artemisinin (青蒿素, qinghaosu), antimalarial from Artemisia annua discovered by Tu Youyou (2015 Nobel Prize); backbone of ACT first-line malaria treatment; endoperoxide-bridge mechanism; partial resistance now confirmed in four African countries.
Artemisinin combination therapy
Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) is the WHO-recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria, pairing a fast-acting artemisinin derivative with a longer-acting partner drug that clears remaining parasites; artemisinin resistance has now emerged independently in Africa.
Artemisinin-naphthoquine
Artemisinin-naphthoquine (ARCO, 复方磷酸萘酚喹片) is a Chinese fixed-dose antimalarial pairing artemisinin with the 4-aminoquinoline naphthoquine, given as a single 8-tablet dose; WHO does not recommend it for general use.
Artemisinin-piperaquine
Artemisinin-piperaquine (Artequick, 青蒿素哌喹片) is a Chinese-developed fixed-dose antimalarial combining artemisinin with the long-half-life partner piperaquine; distinct from WHO-recommended dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, it lacks a general WHO recommendation over its 2-day, low-artemisinin regimen.
Artenimol
Artenimol, the INN for dihydroartemisinin (DHA), is an artemisinin-derived antimalarial and active metabolite of artesunate, discovered by Tu Youyou in 1973 and used with piperaquine as Eurartesim.
Arterolane (arterolane maleate + piperaquine, Synriam)
Arterolane (OZ277, RBx11160), a fully synthetic trioxolane peroxide antimalarial, marketed with piperaquine as Synriam; first synthetic peroxide antimalarial approved, in India, non-inferior to artemether-lumefantrine.
Astodrimer
Astodrimer (SPL7013, VivaGel) is a polyanionic lysine dendrimer antiviral and antibacterial drug by Starpharma, approved for bacterial vaginosis in Europe, Australia, and Asia, and tested as a COVID-19 nasal spray.
Asunaprevir
Asunaprevir (BMS-650032, Sunvepra) is a Bristol-Myers Squibb HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor for chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C, approved in Japan July 2014 for use with daclatasvir as the first interferon-free all-oral regimen.
Atilotrelvir/ritonavir
Atilotrelvir/ritonavir (泰中定, GST-HG171) is a Chinese oral 3CL protease inhibitor combination for mild-to-moderate COVID-19, conditionally NMPA-approved November 2023; 150/100 mg twice daily for 5 days.
Atovaquone
Atovaquone (Mepron, 566C80) is a hydroxynaphthoquinone antiprotozoal drug inhibiting the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex; used for Pneumocystis pneumonia and, with proguanil, malaria treatment and prophylaxis.