| abstract |
A pharmaceutical composition that can be used to treat viral infections, particularly HIV. The composition comprises from about 250 mg to about 6000 mg of a benzimidazole derivative of the formula:wherein X is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl of less than 7 carbon atoms or alkoxy of less than 7 carbon atoms; n is a positive integer of less than 4; Y is hydrogen, chlorine, nitro, oxychloro, methyl or ethyl; and R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R2 is 4-thiazolyl and the pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic addition salts thereof. The preferred compound is thiabendazole. In the present invention it has been discovered that the compounds described above are useful for the inhibition of HIV and the treatment of HIV infection when used alone or in combination with other anti-viral agents. These compositions can prevent replication of the HIV virus, create virus resistance in the patient and prevent or delay infectability of cells with HIV virus and delay reappearance of the virus in the treated cells. These compositions are also effective against hepatitis and such as herpes, influenza and rhinoviruses and can be used in conjunction with other agents such as other anti-viral compounds or potentiators for the treatment of viral infections. |