• Molecular NameRibavirin
  • SynonymRBV; Ribavirin Triphosphate; Ribavirina [INN-Spanish]; Ribavirine [INN-French]; Ribavirinum [INN-Latin]
  • Weight244.207
  • Drugbank_IDDB00811
  • ACS_NO36791-04-5
  • Show 2D model
  • LogP (experiment)-1.85
  • LogP (predicted, AB/LogP v2.0)-2.14
  • pkaN/A
  • LogD (pH=7, predicted)-2.14
  • Solubility (experiment)142 mg/ml
  • LogS (predicted, ACD/Labs)(ph=7)-1.41
  • LogSw (predicted, AB/LogsW2.0)161.29
  • Sw (mg/ml) (predicted, ACD/Labs)9.42
  • No.of HBond Donors5
  • No.of HBond Acceptors9
  • No.of Rotatable Bonds3
  • TPSA143.72
  • StatusFDA approved
  • AdministrationLiquid for inhalation; oral capsule and tablet
  • PharmacologyAn anti-viral drug indicated for severe RSV infection (individually), hepatitis C infection (used in conjunction with peginterferon alfa-2b or peginterferon alfa-2a) and other viral infections. Ribavirin is a prodrug, which when metabolised resembles purine RNA nucleotides.
  • Absorption_value85.0
  • Absorption (description)Rapidly and extensively absorbed following oral administration. However, due to first-pass metabolism, the absolute bioavailability averages 64%.
  • Caco_2N/A
  • Bioavailability60.0
  • Protein binding10.0
  • Volume of distribution (VD)9.3 L/kg
  • Blood/Plasma Partitioning ratio (D_blood)N/A
  • MetabollsmHepatic. Results of in vitro studies using both human and rat liver microsome preparations indicated little or no cytochrome P450 enzyme-mediated metabolism of ribavirin, with minimal potential for P450 enzyme-based drug interactions. Ribavirin has two pathways of metabolism: (1) a reversible phosphorylation pathway in nucleated cells; and (2) a degradative pathway involving deribosylation and amide hydrolysis to yield a triazole carboxylic acid metabolite.
  • Half life28 h (Following multiple oral dosing, CL/F decreases more than 50%, and a long terminal t1/2 of 150+/- 50 hours is observed)
  • Excretion10% fecal, remainder in urine (30% unchanged, remainder metabolites)
  • Urinary Excretion35
  • Clerance5.0 ml/min/kg
  • ToxicitySide effects include "flu-like" symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, myalgia, and fever. The LD50 in mice is 2 g/kg orally and is associated with hypoactivity and gastrointestinal symptoms (estimated human equivalent dose of 0.17 g/kg, based on body surface area conversion).
  • LD50 (rat)N/A
  • LD50 (mouse)LD50=2 g/kg