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Docosanol 10% cream is a topical treatment for recurrent herpes simplex labialis episodes (episodes of cold sores or fever blisters). A saturated 22-carbon aliphatic alcohol, Docosanol exhibits antiviral activity against many lipid enveloped viruses including [herpes simplex virus] (HSV). Docosanol inhibits fusion between the plasma membrane and the herpes simplex virus (HSV) envelope, thereby preventing viral entry into cells and subsequent viral replication. Since the compound does not act directly on the virus, it is unlikely that it will produce drug resistant mutants of HSV. All known competitive products, such as nucleoside analogues, work by inhibition of viral DNA replication and, as such, carry the risk of mutating the virus.
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