Letermovir and Its Role in the Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Seropositive Patients Receiving an Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant

Overview

Journal Ther Adv Hematol

Specialty Hematology

Date 2020 Jul 9

PMID 32637057

Citations 11

Authors

Terri Lynn Shigle

Victoria Wehr Handy

Roy F Chemaly

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation is one of the most common infections affecting allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. Although available anti-CMV therapies have been evaluated for the prevention of CMV reactivation, their toxicity profile makes them unfavorable for use as primary prophylaxis; thus, they are routinely reserved for the treatment of CMV viremia or CMV end-organ disease. Pre-emptive CMV monitoring strategies have been widely accepted, and although they have been helpful in early detection, they have not affected the overall morbidity and mortality associated with CMV. Letermovir is a novel agent that was approved for primary prophylaxis in CMV-seropositive adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. This review focuses on letermovir's novel mechanism; clinical trials supporting its United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and subsequent follow-up analyses; clinical considerations, with an emphasis on pharmacology; and lessons learned from solid organ transplant recipients, as well as potential future directions.

Citing Articles

Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Letermovir in Allogenic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Suetsugu K, Shigematsu T, Nakamura T, Hirota T, Ieiri I Clin Pharmacokinet. 2024; 63(7):945-964.

PMID: 39012618 DOI: 10.1007/s40262-024-01392-1.

CMV-RNAemia as new marker of active viral replication in transplant recipients.

Piccirilli G, Lanna F, Gabrielli L, Motta V, Franceschiello M, Cantiani A J Clin Microbiol. 2024; 62(5):e0163023.

PMID: 38534109 PMC: 11078005. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01630-23.

Antiviral Approach to Cytomegalovirus Infection: An Overview of Conventional and Novel Strategies.

Bottino P, Pastrone L, Curtoni A, Bondi A, Sidoti F, Zanotto E Microorganisms. 2023; 11(10).

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Immunology of cord blood T-cells favors augmented disease response during clinical pediatric stem cell transplantation for acute leukemia.

Borrill R, Poulton K, Wynn R Front Pediatr. 2023; 11:1232281.

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Virus-Specific T-Cell Therapy for Viral Infections of the Central Nervous System: A Review.

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