Aciclovir
Also called acycloguanosine, zovirax and ACV.
The antiviral that made herpes and chickenpox treatable, and won its inventor a Nobel Prize in 1988.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf. Aciclovir on the product labels we hold.
Every product and list we hold
Sources and notes
- The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
- How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
An O-H on a carbon that is not part of an aromatic ring, the group that makes a molecule an alcohol. It both gives and accepts hydrogen bonds, which helps the molecule mix with water.
From: standard chemistry.
An oxygen bridging two carbons, written C-O-C. It accepts hydrogen bonds but has no hydrogen to give, and it is slow to react.
From: standard chemistry.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Compare a related molecule
Aciclovir
Valaciclovir
Valaciclovir is aciclovir with the amino acid valine attached, which the body removes, so swallowed valaciclovir delivers far more aciclovir to the blood.
Aciclovir vs Valaciclovir, side by sideSources and notes
- The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitThe two drawings side by side.
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C8H11N5O3
- Molecular weight
- 225.2 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- −1.9
- Polar surface areatopological
- 115 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 3
- H-bond acceptors
- 5
- Rotatable bonds
- 4
- Complexity
- 308
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
10,000 mg/kg pure aciclovir, mouse, oral
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA via PubChem
Warning Irritant pictogram (GHS07) and Health hazard pictogram (GHS08); hazard statements H302, H312, H315, H319, H335, H351
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Aciclovir for human use (NDA 018604, authorized March 29, 1982). Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Antivirals
- Elements
- Nitrogen
- Hazard classes
- Irritant, Health hazard, GHS Warning
C1=NC2=C(N1COCCO)N=C(NC2=O)NPubChem CID 135398513 · Wikidata Q147101 · InChIKey MKUXAQIIEYXACX-UHFFFAOYSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Aciclovir?
- The antiviral that made herpes and chickenpox treatable, and won its inventor a Nobel Prize in 1988.
- How toxic is Aciclovir?
- The reported LD50 of Aciclovir is 10,000 mg/kg (mouse, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Warning and the hazard pictograms Irritant and Health hazard. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Aciclovir?
- Aciclovir has the formula C8H11N5O3 and a molecular weight of 225.2 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under antivirals, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Aciclovir called?
- Aciclovir is also called acycloguanosine, zovirax and ACV. from source
- Who licenses Aciclovir as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Aciclovir for human use (NDA 018604, authorized March 29, 1982). from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: mouse, another route, 1,000 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
Sources and notes
- Compared side by sidefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesA molecule we compare it with on its own page.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit