Pharmacologic Substance
foscarnet sodium Audio
[ fos-kar-net soh-dee-um ]
Effect:
Decreased DNA Replication; Decreased Protein Synthesis
May Treat:
Cytomegalovirus Infections; Herpes Genitalis
More Information:
ChemID; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to foscarnet sodium:
  • A drug used to treat infections with herpesviruses in people whose immune systems are weakened by AIDS. It blocks the viruses from making copies of themselves. It is a type of antiviral agent.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The trisodium salt of a synthetic organic analogue of inorganic pyrophosphate with antiviral activity. Foscarnet selectively blocks the pyrophosphate binding site of herpesvirus-specific DNA polymerases at concentrations that do not affect cellular DNA polymerases. This agent does not require phosphorylation by thymidine kinase (TK) or other kinases and therefore is active in vitro against herpes simplex virus (HSV) TK deficient mutants and cytomegalovirus (CMV) UL97 mutants. Because foscarnet crosses the blood brain barrier, it may be used in the treatment of viral infections of the CNS.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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