Bile acid containing prodrugs with enhanced bioavailabilty

Many compounds have poor bioavailability or variable bioavailability because of poor absorption of the compound in the small intestine. Conjugation of the compound with bile acid to form a prodrug will increase the bioavailibility of the compound and/or reduce the bioavailability variability of the compound because of the active transport of the prodrug by the intestinal bile acid transporter and because of increased lipophilic nature of the prodrug. A linker group can be used between the bile acid and the compound. One example of a bile acid containing prodrug is acyclovir valylchenodeoxycholate, where valine is the linker group. Another example of this prodrug is atenolol cholic acid amide.