The inability to effectively deliver antiviral agents to the brain and central nervous system can be overcome via drug latentiation and, specifically, via a redox chemical delivery system. This approach has been successfully applied to a variety of agents, examples of which are summarized in this review. These include azidothymidine, azidouridine, dideoxydidehydrothymidine, acyclovir, trifluorothymidine, gancyclovir and ribavirin.