Aciclovir (ACV), also known as acyclovir, is an antiviral medication. It is primarily used for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, chickenpox, and shingles. Other uses include prevention of cytomegalovirus infections following transplant and severe complications of Epstein-Barr virus infection. It can be taken by mouth, applied as a cream, or injected.
Acyclovir is an antiviral drug. However, it is not a cure for these infections. The viruses that cause these infections continue to live in the body even between outbreaks. Acyclovir decreases the severity and length of these outbreaks. It helps the sores heal faster, keeps new sores from forming, and decreases pain/itching. This medication may also help reduce how long pain remains after the sores heal.
Acyclovir is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a prescription drug that is commonly used as a topical, inject able, and oral treatment for genital herpes and cold sores. Herpes refers to a group of viruses that cause a variety of herpes infections including genital herpes, shingles, chicken pox (also chickenpox), cold sores, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
The acyclovir market is segmented on the basis of types of herpes virus, mechanism of action, application, and region. On the basis of types of virus they are segmented into herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type II (HSV-2), Varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Based on mechanism of action, the market is segmented into nucleotide polymerase inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, and others.
