| abstract |
The present invention relates generally to compounds useful in the amelioration of symptoms associated with viral infection. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of compounds which exhibit a physiological effect on membranous and/or transmembranous structures on or in a cell and which directly or indirectly reduce or inhibit or otherwise prevent viral infection, processing and/or release from the cell. Even more particularly, the present invention contemplates the use or one or more compounds which modulate at least one host cell ion channel in the prophylaxis, treatment and/or symptomatic relief of viral infection in vertebrate animals and in particular in human subjects. The compounds may be provided alone or in combination with other compounds such as those which block or inhibit or at least impair ion channeling. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is the use of the aforementioned anti-viral compounds in the therapeutic management of vertebrate animals including humans, to prevent, reduce or treat infection by certain species of the Picornaviridae family of viral pathogens such as but not limited to Rhinovirus or Enterovirus species. |