| 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 formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic addition salt thereof, 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; R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and R2 is 4-thiazolyl. 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, prevent creation of virus strains that are resistant to treatment with benzimidazoles, prevent or delay infection of cells with HIV virus and delay reappearance of the virus in the treated cells. These compositions are also effective against hepatitis and viruses such as herpes, influenza and rhinoviruses. |