North-2'-Deoxy-Methanocarbathymidines as Antiviral Agents Against Poxviruses
Description of Invention:
This invention relates to a method for the prevention or treatment of poxvirus infection by administering an effective amount of an antiviral agent comprising a carbocyclic 2'-deoxynucleoside analog (as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,629,454 and 5,869,666) to an individual in need thereof. North-methanocarbathymidine (N-MCT), a thymidine analog with a pseudosugar moiety locked in the northern conformation, which was previously shown to exert strong activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, has been identified as exhibiting potent activity against poxviruses. N-MCT effectively blocks poxvirus synthesis through its phosphorylated metabolite, which is more efficiently produced in poxvirus-infected cells. This compound is approximately seven times more potent than cidofovir against vaccinia and cowpox in cell culture. The higher potency and target specificity of N-MCT against poxvirus, as well as its high margin of safety, makes it a highly desirable agent against the poxviridae family. In addition, the mechanism of N-MCT may be different from that of cidofovir, making it even more desirable due to the scarcity of the potential available efficacious anti-pox agents currently under development. This method of treating poxvirus with the described analogs is now available for licensing.
Inventors:
Christopher K. Tseng (NIAID) Victor E. Marquez (NCI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-047-2005/0-US-01 -- U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/684,811 filed 25 May 2005 Licensing Status:
In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further development through collaborative research opportunities with the inventors.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Robert M. Joynes J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301)594-6565
Email: joynesr@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
