Definition: A nucleoside that substitutes for thymidine in DNA and thus acts as an antimetabolite. It causes breaks in chromosomes and has been proposed as an antiviral and antineoplastic agent. It has been given orphan drug status for use in the treatment of primary brain tumors.
brivudine [ (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine,(Z)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine,5-(2-bromoethenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine,5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine,5-BVDU,Berlin-Chemie brand of brivudine,E-5-(2-bromovinyl)-dUrd,Z-5-(2-bromovinyl)-dUrd,Zostex,brivudin ] anti-herpes agent; (Z)-isomer much less active against herpes simplex virus type 1 & somewhat less active against herpes simplex virus type 2 than is the (E)-isomer; both isomers show similar activity