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Abstract
Current management of shingles relies on antiviral therapy. The efficacy of acyclovir in varicella-zoster virus replication is now well established, with a beneficial impact on zoster-associated pain, but its moderate bioavailability renders five oral daily doses mandatory. Recent anti-VZV drug research has been oriented towards agents with increased oral bioavailability. Famciclovir and valaciciovir were originally developed as oral prodrugs for penciclovir and acyclovir, respectively, but, together with the new antivirals, sorivudine and brovavir, they appear to be effective as oral therapy for shingles. Ongoing clinical trials will determine their relative merits in the management of shingles. The experimental agents H2G, HPMPC, mappicine ketone and A-73209 have potential in the treatment of VZV and are undergoing further investigation and development.