Last reviewed 2026-04-20 · How we verify

Vistide (CIDOFOVIR)

Vistide (cidofovir) is a small molecule antiviral medication originally developed by Gilead Sciences Inc and currently owned by the same company. It was FDA-approved in 1996 for the treatment of Acyclovir-Resistant Mucocutaneous HSV in Immunocompromised Patients and CMV Retinitis in AIDS Patients. Vistide has a short half-life of 2.6 hours and low bioavailability of 5%, but is available as a generic medication due to its off-patent status. The commercial status of Vistide is generic, with multiple manufacturers available. Key safety considerations include its potential for nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.

At a glance

Approved indications

• Acyclovir-Resistant Mucocutaneous HSV in Immunocompromised Patients
• CMV Retinitis in AIDS Patients

Boxed warnings

• WARNING RENAL IMPAIRMENT IS THE MAJOR TOXICITY OF CIDOFOVIR INJECTION. CASES OF ACUTE RENAL FAILURE RESULTING IN DIALYSIS AND/OR CONTRIBUTING TO DEATH HAVE OCCURRED WITH AS FEW AS ONE OR TWO DOSES OF CIDOFOVIR INJECTION. TO REDUCE POSSIBLE NEPHROTOXICITY, INTRAVENOUS PREHYDRATION WITH NORMAL SALINE AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROBENECID MUST BE USED WITH EACH CIDOFOVIR INFUSION. RENAL FUNCTION (SERUM CREATININE AND URINE PROTEIN) MUST BE MONITORED WITHIN 48 HOURS PRIOR TO EACH DOSE OF CIDOFOVIR INJECTION AND THE DOSE OF CIDOFOVIR INJECTION MODIFIED FOR CHANGES IN RENAL FUNCTION AS APPROPRIATE (SEE ION (SERUM CREATININE AND URINE PROTEIN) MUST BE MONITORED WITHIN 48 HOURS PRIOR TO EACH DOSE OF CIDOFOVIR INJECTION AND THE DOSE OF CIDOFOVIR INJECTION MODIFIED FOR CHANGES IN RENAL FUNCTION AS APPROPRIATE (SEE DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). CIDOFOVIR INJECTION IS CONTRAINDICATED IN PATIENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING OTHER NEPHROTOXIC AGENTS. NEUTROPENIA HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CIDOFOVIR INJECTION TREATMENT. THEREFORE, NEUTROPHIL COUNTS SHOULD BE MONITORED DURING CIDOFOVIR INJECTION THERAPY. CIDOFOVIR INJECTION IS INDICATED ONLY FOR THE TREATMENT OF CMV RETINITIS IN PATIENTS WITH ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME. IN ANIMAL STUDIES CIDOFOVIR WAS CARCINOGENIC, TERATOGENIC AND CAUSED HYPOSPERMIA (SEE CARCINOGENESIS, MUTAGENESIS, & IMPAIRMENT OF FERTILITY ).

Common side effects

• Proteinuria (>=100 mg/dL)
• Neutropenia (<=500 cells/mm3)
• Decreased Intraocular Pressure
• Decreased Serum Bicarbonate (<=16 mEq/L)
• Fever
• Infection
• Creatinine Elevation (>=2 mg/dL)
• Pneumonia
• Dyspnea
• Nausea with Vomiting
• Proteinuria (>=30 mg/dL)
• Nausea +/- Vomiting

Drug interactions

• foscarnet
• gentamicin
• pentamidine
• rifampicin
• tobramycin

Key clinical trials

• A Phase 3 Trial to Compare IV BCV Versus IV CDV for Treatment of Adenovirus Infection After Allo-HCT (PHASE3)
• Cidofovir Versus Best Supportive Care for Hemorrhagic Cystitis (PHASE2)
• A Study of Maribavir in Chinese Adults With Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infections (PHASE3)
• Trial on Efficacy and Safety of Pritelivir Tablets for Treatment of Acyclovir-resistant Mucocutaneous HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) Infections in Immunocompromised Subjects (PHASE3)
• A Study of LIVTENCITY (Maribavir) in Adults With Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection After Transplantation in South Korea
• Clinical Trial for Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Electrocoagulation vs Topic Sinecatechins vs Topic Cidofovir Within the Treatment to High-grade Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia in HIV Homosexual Males (PHASE3)
• A Phase 2a Study of IV BCV in Subjects With Adenovirus Infection (PHASE2)
• Pharmacokinetics of Understudied Drugs Administered to Children Per Standard of Care

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• Vistide CI brief — competitive landscape report
• Vistide updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• Gilead Sciences portfolio CI