A crucial issue for antiviral therapy is the fact that all antiviral substances rapidly select for resistance; thus, monitoring and overcoming resistance has become a most important clinical paradigm of antiviral therapy. This calls for cautious use of antiviral drugs and implementation of combination therapies. In parallel, efforts in drug discovery have to be continued to develop compounds with novel mode-of-action and activity against resistant strains. This book reviews the current status of antiviral therapy, from the roads to development of new compounds to their clinical use and cost effectiveness. Individual chapters address in more detail all available drug classes and outline new approaches currently under development.

Antiviral Strategies

Approaches for the Development of Antiviral Compounds: The Case of Hepatitis C Virus
Antiviral Agents Acting as DNA or RNA Chain Terminators
Viral Protease Inhibitors
Anti-Influenza Drugs: The Development of Sialidase Inhibitors
Other Inhibitors of Viral Enzymes and Functions
Inhibitors of Viral Entry
Interferons and Their Use in Persistent Viral Infections
Nucleic Acids-Based Therapeutics in the Battle Against Pathogenic Viruses
Antiviral Gene Therapy
Antiviral Resistance and Impact on Viral Replication Capacity: Evolution of Viruses Under Antiviral Pressure Occurs in Three Phases
Antiviral Combination Therapy for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Socio-Economic Impact of Antiviral Intervention.