Drug

Ganciclovir

In clinical development

ClassHuman herpesvirus 1 DNA polymerase inhibitorEmerging researchLate-stage development

Also known as 9-((2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl)guanine, Cytovene, GA2, Nordeoxyguanosine+11 more

9-((2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl)guanine, Cytovene, GA2, Nordeoxyguanosine, Vitrasert, Zirgan, Gancyclovir, 2-(6-Amino-purin-9-ylmethoxy)-propane-1,3-diol, 2-Amino-9-(2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-ethoxymethyl)-1,9-dihydro-purin-6-one, 2-amino-9-((1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yloxy)methyl)-1H-purin-6(9H)-one, 2-amino-9-((1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yloxy)methyl)-3H-purin-6(9H)-one, 2-amino-9-((1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yloxy)methyl)-9H-purin-6-ol, 2-amino-9-(2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylethoxymethyl)-6,9-dihydro-1H-6-purinone, Ganciclovir Sodium, Ganciclovirum.

RxNorm4678 ChEMBLCHEMBL182 ATCS01AD09 ATCJ05AB06UNIIP9G3CKZ4P5

Research papers

Active clinical trials

DNA polymerase catalytic subunit

Primary target

Latest activity

beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this drug.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Single-center Clinical Trial of Ganciclovir Capsules in the Treatment of Refractory Moderate-to-severe Allergic Rhinitis

Clinical trial2026-07-13Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Phase 2, Randomized, Open-label, Active Comparator, Dose-ranging Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Artesunate for Injection in Combination With Ganciclovir or Valganciclovir for the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Clinical trial2026-05-19Results expected Q2 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Systemic and Topical Antiviral Control of Cytomegalovirus Anterior Uveitis: Treatment Outcomes - Trials I and II

Clinical trial2026-04-07Results expected Q4 2031 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Low-dose IL-2 in SLE Patients With CMV Viremia

Clinical trial2025-09-30Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Ganciclovir to Prevent Reactivation of Cytomegalovirus in Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure and Sepsis

Clinical trial2025-04-08Terminated · ClinicalTrials.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Prophylactic Use of Letermovir Versus Preemptive Strategy in Kidney Transplant Recipients at Higher Risk of Cytomegalovirus Infection: a Prospective Randomized Study

Clinical trial2025-03-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Topical Ganciclovir Versus Systemic Aciclovir in the Treatment of Herpetic Keratitis

Clinical trial2024-12-25Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Coadministration of Genetically Attenuated Plasmodium Falciparum ∆mei2 (GA2) Sporozoites With Adjuvants - a Proof of Principle Study

Clinical trial2024-12-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Systemic and Topical Antivirals for Control of Cytomegalovirus Anterior Uveitis: Treatment

Clinical trial2024-11-13Terminated · ClinicalTrials.gov

An Open Multicenter Study of the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Different Doses of Stimotimagene Copolymerplasmid at Patients With Advanced-stage Solid Tumors With Cymeven® (Ganciclovir) Infusions

Clinical trial2024-04-11Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Effect of Ganciclovir on IL-6 Levels Among Cytomegalovirus-Seropositive Adults With Critical Illness: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Research2017-08-01JAMA

Reactive astrocytes protect tissue and preserve function after spinal cord injury.

Research2004-03-01The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

Canonical identifiers, marketed brand names and mechanism, resolved across RxNorm, ChEMBL and ATC.

Canonical name

Ganciclovir

Aliases & brands

9-((2-Hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy)methyl)guanineCytoveneGA2NordeoxyguanosineVitrasertZirganGancyclovir2-(6-Amino-purin-9-ylmethoxy)-propane-1,3-diol2-Amino-9-(2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-ethoxymethyl)-1,9-dihydro-purin-6-one2-amino-9-((1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yloxy)methyl)-1H-purin-6(9H)-one2-amino-9-((1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yloxy)methyl)-3H-purin-6(9H)-one2-amino-9-((1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yloxy)methyl)-9H-purin-6-ol2-amino-9-(2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylethoxymethyl)-6,9-dihydro-1H-6-purinoneGanciclovir SodiumGanciclovirum

RxNorm CUI

4678

ChEMBL ID

CHEMBL182

ATC codes

S01AD09J05AB06

UNII

P9G3CKZ4P5

Primary mechanism

Human herpesvirus 1 DNA polymerase inhibitor

Pharmacology & targets

1 target

Known molecular targets and mechanisms supported by curated pharmacology databases.

DNA polymerase catalytic subunit

P04293

INHIBITORHuman herpesvirus 1 DNA polymerase inhibitor

Clinical trials

86 trials

The current development programme across all trial phases — status mix, phase distribution and the late-stage studies shaping the evidence base.

Development programme

CLINICALTRIALS.GOV · LIVE REGISTRY

registered trials across all phases

LATEST COMPLETION 2024

Active studies

Recruiting

Late-stage (III+)

Completed

Discontinued

PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 86

Early Phase 11Phase 115Phase 1 / 22Phase 216Phase 2 / 31Phase 318Phase 47Phase N / A26

Late-stage studies

Phase III+ trials still open or recently active — where late-stage evidence is being generated.

Efficacy of a Preemptive Treatment by Ganciclovir or by Aciclovir in ICU Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation and Presenting a Viral Replication (CMV and/or HSV) - Prospective, Randomized, Double-blinded Multicenter Trial

CompletedPH IVAssistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseillen=3172023

Cytomegalovirus Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte for the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infection After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

CompletedPH IVShanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicinen=52021

A Prospective, Double-masked, Placebo Controlled Comparison of Topical 0.15% Ganciclovir Gel (Zirgan®) Versus 0.3% Hypromellose Gel (Genteal Gel®; Placebo) for the Treatment of Adenovirus Conjunctivitis

CompletedPH IVLifelong Vision Foundationn=202016

A Randomized, Open-label Study of the Effect of Oral Valcyte Versus Intravenous Ganciclovir on CMV Viremia in Solid Organ Transplant Patients

CompletedPH IVHoffmann-La Rochen=3252008

Ganciclovir Pharmacokinetics in Patients Undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

TerminatedPH IVUniversity of Oslo School of Pharmacyn=62007

Recent completions

Trials that read out recently, adding to the completed evidence base.

Topical Ganciclovir Versus Systemic Aciclovir in the Treatment of Herpetic Keratitis

CompletedN/AAl-Azhar Universityn=202024

CompletedPH IGene Surgery LLCn=212024

Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of Reduced Duration Prophylaxis Followed by Immuno-guided Prophylaxis to Prevent Cytomegalovirus Disease in Lung Transplant Recipients (CYTOCOR STUDY): An Open-label, Randomised, Non-inferiority Clinical Trial.

CompletedPH IIIMaimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoban=1502023

CompletedPH IVAssistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseillen=3172023

Cytomegalovirus Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte for the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infection After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

CompletedPH IVShanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicinen=52021

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label, Active-controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Maribavir Treatment Compared to Investigator-assigned Treatment in Transplant Recipients With Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infections That Are Refractory or Resistant to Treatment With Ganciclovir, Valganciclovir, Foscarnet, or Cidofovir

CompletedPH IIIShiren=3522020

Research activity

2 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this drug, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time

20042017

Most influential

Reactive astrocytes protect tissue and preserve function after spinal cord injury.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2004 · 1,189 cites

Effect of Ganciclovir on IL-6 Levels Among Cytomegalovirus-Seropositive Adults With Critical Illness: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA · 2017 · 96 cites

Related drugs

1 matches

Drugs sharing diseases, protein targets and literature with this one. Ranked by graph evidence (shared targets + diseases weighted above co-mentions).

Bromodeoxyuridine

Studied across 4 of the same disease areas as Ganciclovir in the shared literature.

4 shared diseases1 shared paper

References & data sources

RxNorm (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — drug identity
ChEMBL (EMBL-EBI) & UniProt — pharmacology and targets
Europe PMC — research literature
ClinicalTrials.gov — clinical trials