Anti-viral Activities of Several Iodinated Pyrimidine Deoxyribonucleosides

Abstract

KAUFMAN¹ has reported that 5-iodo-2′-deoxy-uridine (IUDR or IDU), the deoxyribonucleoside of 5-iodouracil, is effective in controlling herpes simplex keratitis in rabbit and human eyes. IUDR², 5-iodo-2′-deoxycytidine (ICDR), that is, the deoxyribonucleoside of 5-iodocytosine³, as well as their 3′,5′-diacetyl derivatives, were synthesized with the view of examination of them as potential chemotherapeutic agents in cancer. Both IUDR and ICDR have been shown to inhibit the biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and, in addition, to be incorporated as IUDR 5′-phosphate into DNA, in place of thymidine 5′-phosphate^4–6. This communication confirms the efficacy of IUDR in the treatment of an infection of rabbit eyes with a DNA-virus, namely, herpes simplex, and describes a similar anti-viral activity for ICDR and 3′,5′-diacetyl-5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (Ac₂IUDR); in addition, a preliminary test of 3′,5′-diacetyl-5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (Ac₂IUDR); has indicated that this derivative is also active.