| abstract |
A new class of neuramidase inhibitor prodrugs is provided characterized by a prodrug moiety of a carboxyl group modified to form a carbonyl ethoxy amino acid, a carbonyl ethoxy dipeptide or a carbonyl ethoxy tripeptide, a guanidine group modified to form a carbonyl ethoxy amino acid, a carbonyl ethoxy dipeptide, a carbonyl ethoxy tripeptide; a primary alcohol modified to form an esterified single amino acid, dipeptide or tripeptide of zanavimir of the unaltered therapeutic agent. Exemplary therapeutic agents so modified to form prodrugs include zanavimir, oseltamivir and peramivir. The prodrug has increased oral bioavailability relative to the unaltered neuraminidase inhibitor and is effective in the inhibition of viral infections involving neuraminidase in the viral reproductive cycle. |