Pharmacokinetic drug evaluation of letermovir prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Letermovir is a new antiviral approved to prevent cytomegalovirus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. It has a distinct mechanism of action as it acts as a terminase complex inhibitor, and shows some advantages compared to the current treatment options for cytomegalovirus infection. Areas covered: This review focuses on the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug-drug interactions of letermovir. Expert opinion: Letermovir is a new antiviral to prevent cytomegalovirus infection. Unlike the currently used polymerase inhibitors, it has a distinct mechanism of action with better safety, limited resistance, and no cross-resistance. Although a lot of research on pharmacokinetics and drug-drug interactions has already been performed, it might be useful to clarify the effect of letermovir on voriconazole exposure, the drug-drug interaction between caspofungine and letermovir and the effect of statins on letermovir exposure. Also, the lack of an exposure-response relationship should be confirmed in large real-life post-marketing studies in order to be able to lower the intravenous dose of letermovir.