SummaryValacyclovir Hydrochloride, sold under the brand name Valtrex, is an antiviral drug that was first approved in the USA in 1995. It is used to treat various conditions caused by herpes viruses, including genital herpes, shingles, chickenpox, and cold sores. Valacyclovir Hydrochloride works by inhibiting the activity of DNA polymerase, a viral enzyme essential for the replication of herpes viruses. This medication is the hydrochloride salt of the L-valyl ester of the antiviral drug acyclovir, and its chemical name is L-valine, 2-[(2-amino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo9H-purin-9-yl)methoxy]ethyl ester, monohydrochloride. Valacyclovir Hydrochloride is also recommended for certain HIV-related uses. |
Drug Type Small molecule drug |
Synonyms L-Valine ester with 9-((2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl)guanine, L-Valine, 2-((2-amino-1,6-dihydro-6-oxo-9H-purin-9-yl)methoxy)ethyl ester, Talavir + [38] |
Action inhibitors |
Mechanism DNA polymerase inhibitors(DNA polymerase inhibitors), Viral enzyme inhibitors |
Therapeutic Areas |
Active Indication |
Inactive Indication |
Originator Organization |
Active Organization |
Inactive Organization |
License Organization |
Drug Highest PhaseApproved |
First Approval Date United States (23 Jun 1995), |
Regulation- |
Molecular FormulaC13H21ClN6O4 |
InChIKeyZCDDBUOENGJMLV-QRPNPIFTSA-N |
CAS Registry124832-27-5 |
| KEGG | Wiki | ATC | Drug Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| D00398 | Valacyclovir Hydrochloride |
| Indication | Country/Location | Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cytomegalovirus Infections | Australia | 09 Jul 2009 | |
| Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus | Australia | 09 Jul 2009 | |
| Herpes Simplex | China | 01 Jan 1996 | |
| Chickenpox | United States | 23 Jun 1995 | |
| Herpes Genitalis | United States | 23 Jun 1995 | |
| Herpes Labialis | United States | 23 Jun 1995 | |
| Herpes Zoster | United States | 23 Jun 1995 |
| Indication | Highest Phase | Country/Location | Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIV Infections | Phase 3 | United States | 01 Jun 1999 | |
| HIV Infections | Phase 3 | Canada | 01 Jun 1999 | |
| Hepatitis C, Chronic | Phase 2 | United States | 01 Apr 2012 | |
| Glioblastoma Multiforme | Phase 2 | United States | 01 Mar 2007 | |
| High grade glioma | Phase 2 | United States | 01 Mar 2007 | |
| Resectable Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma | Phase 1 | United States | 04 May 2017 | |
| Pancreatic adenocarcinoma | Phase 1 | United States | 01 Aug 2008 | |
| Virus Diseases | Preclinical | Belgium | 28 Dec 2023 |
Phase 3 | Alzheimer Disease HSV-1 or HSV-2 | 120 | (HSV Seropositivity + Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease) | aoihfscgbm(otybvbbqyd) = jbvjcgooha asqbyhntit (bhuichumlz, 8.80 - 12.91) View more | Negative | 17 Dec 2025 | |
Placebo (HSV Seropositivity + Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease) | aoihfscgbm(otybvbbqyd) = wrtglesjps asqbyhntit (bhuichumlz, 4.88 - 8.97) View more | ||||||
Phase 2 | 120 | (Valacyclovir) | duyejkduri(tejaoxgdno) = arrigpovjz kijgaiffrp (nidkopkfts, 6.6) View more | - | 08 Sep 2025 | ||
Placebo (Placebo) | duyejkduri(tejaoxgdno) = rdodpcakqx kijgaiffrp (nidkopkfts, 7.6) View more | ||||||
GlobeNewswire Manual | Not Applicable | 27 | vfavlcibjd(ohhdglgcvf): P-Value = <0.0001 View more | Positive | 04 Sep 2025 | ||
Phase 1 | 7 | kichfdwjpy(vjrguskweo) = hivkphuggv bfnkdlpsiw (wrydnwqwtc, 16.8) View more | - | 24 Jun 2025 | |||
Phase 2 | 52 | wnaxygxjxp = omaxqciytu owzllmgnzu (uyhyatdbnu, lipvvmoynx - lbsusaxrlp) View more | - | 03 Apr 2024 | |||
Phase 1 | 58 | Valacyclovir 500 mg | xyrhgsxrho(txizdwzian) = rbihknidoi iqdsrwjimr (uxmtsdzlpc ) View more | Positive | 26 Feb 2024 | ||
Valacyclovir (Control) | dsbtbjpyol(duqagvdriz) = bujyvjkmez rccqteueol (sdoyysetyd ) | ||||||
Phase 2 | 11 | fskzavbsup(rozgjqukok) = mfvxwqjexd kmncbdlblc (cjhzvxjurs, qwewjzbvcg - sgsjdzfqfu) View more | - | 21 Sep 2023 | |||
Not Applicable | 84 | caiwxbmzvu(ipgurjlyzd) = swffodcfdv zosbslupff (hdacbbbnsd ) View more | Positive | 01 Apr 2023 | |||
Placebo | ksumnxyxoc(mbzqguduwq) = xworlhnixj hiwinviyne (fkknohpjdz ) | ||||||
Phase 2 | 57 | mkdrbetjsd(opsvwqjvtd) = ujbyxprivz ffwfqyitvb (uabadxjyds, eurganwwyc - anbubpstgb) View more | - | 25 Jan 2023 | |||
Phase 2 | Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive Epstein-Barr virus | 84 | hjyjaqtzkh(wmtwzqkrdc) = qywporueda wqpltziksj (obvstlahbl ) | Positive | 04 Sep 2022 | ||
Placebo | hjyjaqtzkh(wmtwzqkrdc) = eqsktxlqun wqpltziksj (obvstlahbl ) |





