| abstract |
This invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that include compounds of formula (I) in which A, B and C are hydrogen, halogen, or azido; D is hydrogen, halogen, azido, or OH; A and B or C and D can be replaced with a double bond; R is an aldohexose, aldohexosamine, or N-acetyl aldohexosamine, W is O or S; X is O, S, or CH2; Y is a purine or pyrimidine base, Z is C, S, or O, and wherein when Z is S or O, A and C are not present. The compounds of this invention have enhanced pharmaceutical or biological activity or increased intracellular absorption compared to the corresponding parent nucleoside as a function of the 5'-diphosphohexose moiety. Many of these compounds have antiviral, including anti-HIV, activity. Others have antibacterial activity. In one embodiment, the invention is a method to treat HIV infection and opportunistic infections concomitantly. |