Erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) Adenine alone and in combination with 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine in treatment of systemic herpesvirus infections in mice.

Although the antiviral activity of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, a potent adenosine deaminase inhibitor, against herpes simplex virus type 1 in cell culture was readily confirmed, the compound was found to be totally ineffective in the treatment of experimentally induced systemic herpes simplex virus type 1 infections in Swiss mice. Data were obtained, however, which clearly indicated that the antiviral potency of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine in vivo could be enhanced by the co-administration of low, nontoxic doses of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine.