Thymine derivatives

Thymine () (symbol T or Thy) is one of the four nucleotide bases in the nucleic acid of DNA that are represented by the letters G–C–A–T. The others are adenine, guanine, and cytosine. Thymine is also known as 5-methyluracil, a pyrimidine nucleobase. In RNA, thymine is replaced by the nucleobase uracil. Thymine was first isolated in 1893 by Albrecht Kossel and Albert Neumann from calf thymus glands, hence its name.

Zidovudine (ZDV), also known as azidothymidine (AZT), was the first antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. It is generally recommended for use in combination with other antiretrovirals. It may be used to prevent mother-to-child spread during birth or after a needlestick injury or other potential exposure. It is sold both by itself and together as lamivudine/zidovudine and abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine. It can be used by mouth or by slow injection into a vein.

Thymidine (symbol dT or dThd), also known as deoxythymidine is a pyrimidine deoxynucleoside. Deoxythymidine is the DNA nucleoside T, which pairs with deoxyadenosine (A) in double-stranded DNA. In cell biology it is used to synchronize the cells in G1/early S phase. The prefix deoxy- is often left out since there are no precursors of thymine nucleotides involved in RNA synthesis.

Stavudine (d4T), sold under the brand name Zerit among others, is an antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. It is generally recommended for use with other antiretrovirals. It may be used for prevention after a needlestick injury or other potential exposure. However, it is not a first-line treatment. It is given by mouth.

The chemical compound 5-methyluridine (symbol m5U), also called ribothymidine (rT), is a pyrimidine nucleoside. It is the ribonucleoside counterpart to the deoxyribonucleoside thymidine, which lacks a hydroxyl group at the 2' position. 5-Methyluridine contains a thymine base joined to a ribose pentose sugar. It is a white solid.

Trifluridine (also called trifluorothymidine; abbreviation TFT or FTD) is an anti-herpesvirus antiviral drug, used primarily as prescription eyedrops. It was sold under the trade name Viroptic by Glaxo Wellcome, now merged into GlaxoSmithKline. The brand is now wholly owned by King Pharmaceuticals.

chemical compound

Telbivudine is an antiviral drug used in the treatment of hepatitis B infection. It is marketed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis under the trade names Sebivo (European Union) and Tyzeka (United States). Clinical trials have shown it to be significantly more effective than lamivudine or adefovir, and less likely to cause resistance. However, HBV signature resistance mutation M204I (a change from methionine to isoleucine at position 204 in the reverse transcriptase domain of the hepatitis B polymerase) or L180M+M204V have been associated with Telbivudine resistance.

chemical compound

Dihydrothymine is an intermediate in the metabolism of thymine. The enzyme dihydrouracil dehydrogenase (NAD+) converts thymine to dihydrothymine in the reaction:

Brivudine (trade names Zostex, Mevir, Brivir, among others) is an antiviral drug used in the treatment of herpes zoster ("shingles"). Like other antivirals, it acts by inhibiting replication of the target virus.

Clevudine (INN) is an antiviral drug for the treatment of hepatitis B (HBV). It is already approved for HBV in South Korea and the Philippines. It is marketed by Bukwang Pharmaceuticals in South Korea under the tradenames Levovir and Revovir.

Sorivudine (INN), is a nucleoside analogue antiviral drug, marketed under trade names such as Usevir (Nippon Shoji, Eisai) and Brovavir (BMS). It is used for the treatment of varicella zoster virus infections.

Edoxudine (or edoxudin) is an antiviral drug. It is an analog of thymidine, a nucleoside.

chemical compound

5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) is a thymidine analogue which is incorporated into the DNA of dividing cells. EdU is used to assay DNA synthesis in cell culture and detect cells in embryonic, neonatal and adult animals which have undergone DNA synthesis. Whilst at high doses it can be cytotoxic, this molecule is now widely used to track proliferating cells in multiple biological systems.

Stampidine is an experimental nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) with anti-HIV activity.

chemical compound

Censavudine (INN; development code BMS-986001) is an investigational new drug being developed by Bristol Myers-Squibb for the treatment of HIV infection. It was originally developed at Yale University. It is still in an investigational phase of development as of 2023.

Alovudine (fluorothymidine) is an antiviral agent which was being developed by Medivir. It was discontinued after a Phase II trial in 2005 due to toxicity. It is a DNA polymerase inhibitor.

Primidolol is a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist.