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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Amidinourea Derivatives against Herpes Simplex Viruses
Anita Toscani1, Rossana Denaro1, Sergio Fernando Castillo Pacheco2
1School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
Abstract:
Current therapy against herpes simplex viruses (HSV) relies on the use of a few nucleoside antivirals such as acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. However, the current drugs are ineffective against latent and drug-resistant HSV infections. A series of amidinourea compounds, designed as analogues of the antiviral drug moroxydine, has been synthesized and evaluated as potential non-nucleoside anti-HSV agents. Three compounds showed micromolar activity against HSV-1 and low cytotoxicity, turning to be promising candidates for future optimization. Preliminary mode of action studies revealed that the new compounds act in an early stage of the HSV replication cycle, just after the viral attachment and the entry phase of the infection.
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