| abstract |
A medicament for treating neurally-transported viral infections, such as herpes simplex, herpes zoster or rabies, comprises a first active substance selected from alkaloids, anaesthetics and griseofulvin and a second active substance comprising a purine analogue or pyrimidine analogue antiviral agent. The alkaloid may comprise colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, a cytochalasin or their derivatives. Suitable purine analogues include N- substituted guanine derivatives such as aciclovir, valaciclovir, penciclovir, famiciclovir ganciclovir, valganciclovir or pro-drugs that convert thereto in the body, and N-substituted adenine derivatives such as vindarabine. Suitable pyrimidine analogues include thymidine derivatives such as trifluorothymidine. The medicament may be orally administrable, injectable, infusible or topically applicable; a topical medicament may include a local anaesthetic. The medicament may be administered in response to a risk of infection, prior to onset of symptoms. A combination of two preparations may be used, respectively containing the first and second active substances, either administered sequentially or simultaneously. |