Ganciclovir is an antiviral medication used to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. A prodrug form with improved oral bioavailability (valganciclovir) has also been developed.

Medical use

Ganciclovir is indicated for:^[2]

• Sight-threatening CMV retinitis in severely immunocompromised people
• CMV pneumonitis in bone marrow transplant recipients
• Prevention of CMV disease in bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients
• Confirmed CMV retinitis in people with AIDS (intravitreal implant)

It is also used for acute CMV colitis in HIV/AIDS and CMV pneumonitis in immunosuppressed patients.

Ganciclovir has also been used with some success in treating Human herpesvirus 6 infections.^[3]

Ganciclovir has also been found to be an effective treatment for herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis.^{[4][needs update]}