Telbivudine is an antiviral drug used primarily for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Its pharmacological action includes:
Inhibition of Viral DNA Synthesis: Telbivudine is a synthetic thymidine nucleoside analogue. It is phosphorylated into its active triphosphate form by cellular kinases. This active form competes with the natural substrates of HBV DNA polymerase, leading to the incorporation of Telbivudine into viral DNA. This incorporation causes chain termination, resulting in the inhibition of HBV DNA synthesis.
Enhanced Antiviral Efficacy: By specifically targeting the viral DNA polymerase, Telbivudine exerts potent antiviral activity with minimal effects on host cellular DNA polymerases, making it an effective treatment option for chronic HBV infection.
