2'-Deoxy-2',2'-difluorouridine is primarily used as a key intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, most notably the anticancer drug Gemcitabine (2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine). This nucleoside analog is employed in chemotherapy to treat various cancers, including pancreatic, non-small cell lung, breast, bladder, and ovarian cancers. It mimics natural nucleosides to incorporate into DNA, interfering with synthesis and repair processes in cancer cells, thereby inhibiting their proliferation and inducing cell death. While its main application is in oncology, similar difluoro nucleoside derivatives have been investigated for antiviral activity, including against hepatitis viruses, though clinical use remains focused on anticancer therapies.