Antiviral activity of CP-20,961 against herpes simplex viruses in vitro

The antiherpesvirus activity of CP-20,961 [N,N-dioctadecyl-N',N'-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) propanediamine, or Avridine] was investigated in cultured guinea pig embryo (GPE) cells. Plaque formation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) and type 2 (HSV2) was inhibited, but vesicular stomatitis virus replication was not inhibited, in GPE cells treated with CP-20,961 before infection. The ID50 concentration of CP-20,961 for HSV was about 50 micrograms/ml for 3-4 days of pretreatment. After virus adsorption and penetration, the same concentration of CP-20,961 had no effect on HSV plaque formation. The compound showed no detergent-like properties nor did it elicit any detectable interferon activity. Thus, the anti-HSV activity of CP-20,961 appeared to be associated with blocking the adsorption or penetration of the virus or both.