Abreva Medical Drug

Medical Drugs > Other

Description

Docosanol, also known as behenyl alcohol, is a saturated fatty alcohol used mainly as an antiviral agent, specifically for treatment of "cold sores" caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is normally administered topically in a cream containing a base and a 10% mix of the active ingredient.

It probably functions by inhibiting the fusion of the human host cell with the viral envelope of the herpes virus, thus preventing its replication.

Docosanol was approved for use after clinical trials by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July 2000.[1] It was shown to shorten the healing by 17.5 hours on average (95% confidence interval: 2 to 22 hours) in a placebo-controlled trial.[2] Three other trials showed negative results, but these were not published.[3]

Marketed by Avanir Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Abreva, it was the first over-the-counter antiviral drug approved for sale in the United States and Canada. In Europe, it is marketed by Healthcare Brands under the name Erazaban. In March 2007 it was the subject of a US nationwide class-action suit against Avanir and GlaxoSmithKline as the claim that it cut recovery times in half was found to have been misleading in a California court.[4]

References

1. ^ "Drug Name: ABREVA (docosanol) - approval". centerwatch.com (July 2000). Retrieved on 2007-10-17.

2. ^ Sacks, SL. Clinical efficacy of topical docosanol 10% cream for herpes simplex labialis: A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. 45. J Am Acad Dermatol. pp. 222-230.

3. ^ Schubert-Zsilavecz, M, Wurglics, M, Neue Arzneimittel 2008/2009

4. ^ "California Court Upholds Settlement Of Class Action Over Cold Sore Medicationl". BNA Inc. (July 2000). Retrieved on 2007-10-17.