Emerging drugs for Epstein-Barr virus associated-diseases, 2025, Nassima Oumata et al

Highlights
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the first identified oncogenic virus.

Globally, 1.5 % of human malignancies are attributed to EBV

EBV is associated with lymphomas, carcinomas, and auto-immune diseases.

Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen 1 (EBNA-1) is a key player in EBV-induced diseases

Somatostatin Receptor 2 is a biomarker of several EBV-associated diseases.

Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the first identified oncogenic virus. It causes three types of diseases: lymphomas, carcinomas, and autoimmune diseases. It is estimated that two hundred thousand deaths are due to EBV each year. After a primary infection, EBV can remain latent lifelong. Reactivation to lytic phase can be induced by various drugs including small organic molecules, biologics, or a combination of both.

In this review, we identified the most relevant results obtained with small organic compounds against Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases. Specific treatments targeting Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen 1 are emerging concerning small organic molecules and showed promising results against several EBV-related malignancies.
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