| abstract |
The invention which is the subject of the present application concerns a compound of structure I: A-B-C for use in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a viral infection, and in particular for preventing and/or inhibiting viral replication, in which A is a quinoline or quinoline-like group, B is a sole amino acid or a peptide or polypeptide having a given amino acid sequence, C is an O-phenoxy group and the symbol "-" marks the fact that the entities A, B and C are chemically bonded within the compound I. According to one particular embodiment, said compound is a protease inhibitor, in particular a caspase inhibitor, and more particularly the inhibitor Q-VD-OPh (N-(2-(quinolyl)valylaspartyl-(2,6-difluorophenoxy)methyl ketone), optionally in an O-methylated form. A subject of the invention is also a novel antiviral composition, and also a novel combination (or kit) comprising (i) said compound of structure I and (ii) at least one other antiviral agent, in particular at least one transcriptase inhibitor and/or at least one viral-protease inhibitor. |