Drug Summary

  Drug name:  zalcitabine
  Chemical name:  Zalcitabine
  Formula:  C₉H₁₃N₃O_{3  Weight:   211.2178
  CAS no:  7481-89-2
  DrugBank link:  DB00943
  Description:  A dideoxynucleoside compound in which the 3’-hydroxyl group on the sugar moiety has been replaced by a hydrogen. This modification prevents the formation of 5’ to 3’ phosphodiester linkages, which are needed for the elongation of DNA chains, thus resulting in the termination of viral DNA growth. The compound is a potent inhibitor of HIV replication at low concentrations, acting as a chain-terminator of viral DNA by binding to reverse transcriptase. Its principal toxic side effect is axonal degeneration resulting in peripheral neuropathy. [PubChem]
  Indication:  For the treatment of Human immunovirus (HIV) infections in conjunction with other antivirals.}