Used primarily in medical research and pharmaceutical development, ethynylcytidine plays a significant role in the study of antiviral therapies. It is particularly explored for its potential to inhibit the replication of certain viruses, making it a candidate for the development of treatments against viral infections. Additionally, its unique chemical structure allows it to be incorporated into nucleic acids, which is useful in genetic studies and molecular biology research aimed at understanding cellular processes and genetic regulation. Ethynylcytidine is also investigated for its use in cancer research, where it may help in studying the mechanisms of tumor growth and in the development of targeted cancer therapies.