5′-Amino-5′-deoxythymidine: Topical Therapeutic Efficacy in Ocular Herpes and Systemic Teratogenic and Toxicity Studies

AdThd (5′-amino-5′-deoxythymidine) is a highly soluble new antiviral drug specifically activated by herpes simplex viral thymidine kinase. Ten and fifteen percent AdThd eye drops were significantly better than placebo in therapy of herpetic keratouveitis in rabbits and the slope of the therapeutic curve of 15% AdThd was similar to that of idoxuridine (IdUrd). Systemic administration of these drugs in the neonatal mouse model revealed no adverse effect in vivo or by histopathologic exam in AdThd or saline-treated animals but that IdUrd was extremely toxic and teratogenic. AdThd is a new, effective and nontoxic specific antiherpes agent.