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Adefovir dipivoxil (adefovir)
Adefovir dipivoxil is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor that blocks viral DNA polymerase activity in hepatitis B virus.
Adefovir dipivoxil is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor that blocks viral DNA polymerase activity in hepatitis B virus. Used for Chronic hepatitis B infection.
At a glance
| Generic name | Adefovir dipivoxil (adefovir) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Hepsera |
| Sponsor | Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC |
| Drug class | Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor |
| Target | Hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase / DNA polymerase |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Virology / Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Adefovir is a prodrug that is converted to adefovir (an acyclic nucleotide analogue) in cells, where it inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase, preventing viral replication. It is incorporated into the growing viral DNA chain, causing chain termination and reducing HBV DNA levels in infected patients.
Approved indications
- Chronic hepatitis B infection
Common side effects
- Nephrotoxicity / renal dysfunction
- Headache
- Asthenia / fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Elevated creatinine
Key clinical trials
- Prevention of Recurrent Hepatitis B After Liver Transplantation
- Carvedilol for Prevention of Esophageal Varices Progression (NA)
- Study Comparing the Safety of Switching From Lamivudine to Adefovir Dipivoxil Versus Overlapping Lamivudine and Adefovir Before Adefovir Dipivoxil Monotherapy in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B (PHASE4)
- A Study of Several Anti-HIV Drug Combinations in HIV-Infected Patients Who Have Used Indinavir (NA)
- Treatment of Hepatitis in Patients Who Are Triple-Infected With HIV, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) (PHASE2)
- A Comparison of Adefovir and Tenofovir for the Treatment of Lamivudine-Resistant Hepatitis B Virus in People With HIV (PHASE2)
- The Effectiveness of Nelfinavir and Efavirenz, Used Alone or Together, Combined With Other Anti-HIV Drugs in Patients Who Have Taken Anti-HIV Drugs (PHASE2)
- A Study on Amprenavir in Combination With Other Anti-HIV Drugs in HIV-Positive Patients (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Adefovir dipivoxil (adefovir) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Adefovir dipivoxil (adefovir) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC portfolio CI