Clevudine University of Georgia/Abbott/Bukwang/Triangle/Yale University

The pyrimidine analog, clevudine (L-FMAU: 2'-fluoro-5-methyl-beta-L-arabinofuranosyluridine) is a potent antihepatitis B virus (HBV) and anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) agent, discovered by researchers at the University of Georgia, in collaboration with Yale University and Bukwang. Bukwang transferred its technology to Triangle Pharmaceuticals in 1998 together with a license to develop clevudine worldwide except Korea 279649], 281942]. In June 1999, Triangle and Abbott Laboratories entered into a strategic alliance to copromote antiviral products including L-FMAU 326798]. In September 2000, Triangle Pharmaceuticals Inc initiated a 30-day phase I/II evaluation of clevudine in HBV-infected patients 381755]. Clevudine is a much less toxic derivative of the toxic agent P-D-FMAU. The mechanism of action of clevudine is not yet clear, but the agent induces a rapid decrease in HBV nucleic acid as doses increase from 0.3 to 10 mg/kg 319145]. It is believed that the target for clevudine lies in the viral replication mechanism. Clevudine is phosphorylated to the triphosphate form intracellularly. This is removed slowly from the cells, thus exerting a sustained inhibitory antiviral activity 178173], 320720], 320721].