(E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine

Brivudine (BVdU) is a nucleoside analogue anti-herpesvirus agent, and is often used for treatment of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections. Brivudine blocks the action of DNA polymerases, thus inhibiting viral replication. Brivudine owes its effect to preferential phosphorylation by virus-encoded thymidine kinase to its 5'-diphosphate form. After further conversion to triphosphate form, it acts as an inhibitor or alternate substrate for the viral DNA polymerase. Brivudine is also characterized by a well described fatal drug interaction with antitumor agents such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) [F0151] and its prodrugs. This is caused by the main metabolite, bromovinyluracil (BVU), irreversibly inhibiting the enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) which is necessary for inactivating 5-FU. (The product is for research purpose only.)