Inventors:
Karl Y. Hostetler - Del Mar CA
Raj Kumar - San Diego CA
Assignee:
NeXstar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Boulder CO
International Classification:
A01N 5718
Abstract:
Lipid-containing prodrugs are provided for treating viral infections due to herpes, influenza, hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr, and varicella zoster viruses, as well as cytomegalovirus and derivatives of antiviral agents. The compounds comprise phosphonoacids having antiviral activity which are linked, either through the phosphate group or carboxyl group of the phosphonoacid, to one of a selected group of lipids. Phosphonoacetic acid and phosphonoformic acid are thus linked to phospholipids, glycerolipids, sphingolipids, glycolipids, or fatty acids. The compounds persist, after intracellular hydrolysis, as the antiviral phosphonoacids. The lipid prodrugs are effective in improving the efficacy of antiviral phosphonoacids by prolonging their antiviral activity following administration.