Curious (Old and New) Antiviral Nucleoside Analogues with Intriguing Therapeutic Potential

In the current context of antiviral drug development, which has been traditionally dominated by herpesviruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), a new viral target has been recently gained unforeseen attention, Ebola virus. Ten nucleoside analogues, or categories thereof, are reviewed for their therapeutic potential as antiviral drugs: (i) BCX4430, a C-nucleoside; (ii) 4’-azido-, 4’-cyano-, and 4’-ethynyl derivatives; (iii) 4’-thionucleosides; (iv) cordycepin (3’-deoxyadeosine); (v) pyrazofurin, another C-nucleoside; (vi) neplanocin A analogues; (vii) EICAR, a ribavirin analogue; (viii) GR-92938X, a double carboxamide; (ix) sofosbuvir (Solvaldi®), a 2’-C-methylnucleoside; and (x) favipiravir (T-705), a pyrazine analogue.