Per Ljungman, MD, PhD, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, explains the severity of adenovirus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, particularly children. Prof. Ljungman highlights the age-dependent effects of adenovirus, how the infection is most common in early life and the improved ability of the immune system to clear the virus as a person matures. Prof. Ljungman points out that there is currently no licensed antiviral agent against adenovirus, only compassionate drug use with brincidofovir (BCV), an antiviral drug with broad-spectrum activity, which is now no longer available due to the current license holders halting development. This has resulted in transplant centers resorting to a previously used drug, cidofovir, which has significant problems associated with it. Moving forward, he speaks about the development of a license for intravenous BCV, but emphasizes that for the foreseeable future, this drug will not be available. This interview was recorded via an online conference call with The Video Journal of Hematological Oncology (VJHemOnc).
