The effect of oral
BV-araU was tested in cutaneous model
infections of shaved Balb/c mice with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Progression of cutaneous symptoms associated with cutaneous
infection with HSV-1 F strain was inhibited by
BV-araU at doses of 20 and 50 mg/kg twice daily, beginning one day post-
infection, resulting in significant increase in the survival rate. Onset of disease was suppressed in most animals receiving 100 mg of
BV-araU per kg.
BV-araU (20 mg/kg or more) also significantly increased the survival rate of mice infected with HSV-1 WT-51 strain. The efficacy of
BV-araU was not affected by gender or age (6-9 weeks) of the mice.
BV-araU was effective even when the treatment was started 2.5 days post-
infection. The efficacy of
BV-araU against F strain
infection was comparable to that of
acyclovir, but
acyclovir showed
therapeutic effects at lower doses compared with
BV-araU against WT-51 strain
infection. Against
infection of
cyclophosphamide-treated immunosuppressed mice with HSV-1 KOS(S) strain,
BV-araU decreased the morbidity rate and severity of symptoms at doses of 200 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, and all mice given 50 mg of
BV-araU or more per kg survived, suggesting oral efficacy can be achieved against HSV-1
infections in immunosuppressed individuals.