Increased efficacy of ganciclovir and foscarnet inhibition of cytomegalovirus replication in vitro by encapsulation in liposomes.

The antiviral effect of ganciclovir and foscarnet encapsulated in liposomes was studied against cytomegalovirus in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells. Substantially greater activity (3.5-fold and 38-fold respectively) in terms of inhibition of virus replication intracellularly was found compared to that seen with non-encapsulated antiviral agents, and liposome encapsulation did not result in increased cytotoxicity.