What is "clevudine"

n. An antiviral drug for the treatment of hepatitis B.

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.

Under license from Bukwang, Pharmasset was developing the drug, but its phase III clinical trial (international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, 96 week QUASH studies) was terminated due to some myopathy cases in patients. Its approval in South Korea was revoked following these findings. Researchers in South Korea are testing clevudine at lower doses in combination with adefovir for continued use.

It is a nucleoside analog.