EFFICACY OF 2'-DEOXY-2'-FLUORORIBOSIDES AGAINST INFLUENZA-A AND INFLUENZA-B VIRUSES IN FERRETS

Single-dose treatments (5 to 40 mg/kg of body weight given intraperito neally) of ferrets with 2'-deoxy-2'fluoroguanosine or its prodrug, 2,6 -diamino-purine-2'-fluororiboside, 1 h after infection with influenza A virus significantly inhibited replication of virus in the upper resp iratory tract, resulting in amelioration of fever and nasal inflammati on, Replication of virus in the lower respiratory tract was also reduc ed >100-fold, but three doses were required to prevent replication in the lungs. In ferrets infected with influenza B virus, single-dose tre atment (40 mg/kg given intraperitoneally) produced a similar but reduc ed response in comparison with that in ferrets infected with influenza A virus, indicating that dosing was not optimal for this virus.