Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

High-throughput Screening for Broad-spectrum Chemical Inhibitors of RNA Viruses
Published on: May 5, 2014
Broad-spectrum virucidal activity of (NVC-422) N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine against viral ocular pathogens in
Andreas Jekle1, Suriani Abdul Rani, Chris Celeri
1NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated, Emeryville, California, USA.
Purpose:
Viral conjunctivitis is a highly contagious infection often causing major epidemics. A safe broad-spectrum antiviral agent is needed to treat this unmet medical need. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that in vitro NVC-422 is a safe, broad-spectrum topical virucidal agent with activity against ophthalmic viral pathogens.
Methods:
The virucidal activity of NVC-422 against several serotypes of human adenovirus (HAdV), coxsackievirus A24, enterovirus 70, and herpes simplex-virus-1 (HSV-1) was tested in standard in vitro titer reduction assays with or without tears. An in vitro irritancy score for NVC-422 was determined using the MatTek EpiOcular tissue system.
Results:
NVC-422 reduced the viral titer of HAdV-5, HAdV-8, HAdV-19, HAdV-37, and HSV-1 by at least 4 logs after 1 hour incubation at 250 μM. Incubation of coxsackievirus A24 and enterovirus 70 with 2.5 mM NVC-422 for 1 hour reduced the viral titer by 4 logs and 4.5 logs, respectively. The virucidal activity of NVC-422 is maintained in the presence of 10% synthetic tears. In the EpiOcular corneal tissue model, NVC-422 was nonirritating at concentrations up to 41 mM.
Conclusions:
NVC-422 has potent, rapid in vitro virucidal activity against major causes of conjunctivitis. Its broad-spectrum virucidal activity combined with favorable safety profile validates NVC-422 as a potential new therapeutic agent against viral conjunctivitis.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Antimicrobial Effectiveness
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
Subviral Agents
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
