TOPICAL TREATMENT OF INFECTION WITH ACYCLOVIR-RESISTANT MUCOCUTANEOUSHERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS WITH THE RIBONUCLEOTIDE REDUCTASE INHIBITOR 348U87 IN COMBINATION WITH ACYCLOVIR

The thiocarbonohydrazone 348U87 inactivates herpes simplex virus ribon ucleotide reductase and potentiates the activity of acyclovir against wild-type and acyclovir-resistant strains of herpes simplex virus. We treated 10 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with acyclov ir-resistant anogenital herpes simplex virus infection with a topical preparation of 348U87 (3%) in combination with acyclovir (5%) in an op en-labelled study. Transient improvement with combination therapy occu rred frequently; however, target lesions reepithelialized completely i n only 1 of 10 patients. Termination of study drug therapy was most of ten due to cessation of therapeutic effect before complete resolution of lesions. As currently formulated, topical 348U87 offers little ther apeutic benefit for this indication.