Antiviral peptides and means for treating herpes infections

摘要

Disclosed herein are antiviral peptides of the formula A-R8-R9-R10-R11-R12-R13-R14-R15B wherein A is from zero up to seven amino acid residues and includes a terminal hydrogen or a terminal N-acyl, or A is a phenylpropionyl with optional substitution of the para position of the phenyl, R8, R9, R10, R13, R14 and R15 are various amino acid residues with the stipulation that one or more of the three amino acid residues immediately preceeding R11 and R12 are independently Val, D-Val, Nva, D-Nva, Leu, D-Leu, Nle, D-Nle, Ile or D-Ile, and B is hydroxy, amino or lower alkylamino. The antiviral activity of the peptides can be enhanced by combining them with a protease inhibitor. The peptides and the combination are useful for the treatment of herpes viral infections in mammals.