A Review on Analytical Methods for Estimation of Valacyclovir Antiviral Drug

Valacyclovir hydrochloride is an antiviral prodrug that can be administered orally to increase the bioavailability of Acyclovir. Treatment for transplant patients includes herpes simplex (HSV-1, HSV-2), herpes zoster, varicella zoning, and CMV prophylaxis. The drug when taken orally, rapidly transforms into acyclovir, which inhibits viral DNA polymerase and stops viral replication. RP-HPLC and UV-Visible spectrophotometry are one of those analytical techniques used to estimate Valacyclovir in bulk, tablet formulations, and biological samples with high accuracy. These methods have the advantage of being linear, sensitive, and recoverable for use in routine quality control and pharmacokinetic studies. The purpose of this review is to provide better knowledge about valacyclovir, covering its chemistry, pharmacology, therapeutic uses, safety profile, and future perspectives in antiviral therapy.