The Antiherpes Effect of Acyclovir is Potentiated by the Inhibitors of Inosine 5′- Monophosphate Dehydrogenase—Ribavirin, Micophenolic Acid and Mizoribine

Inhibitors of cell enzyme Inosine 5′-Monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase—Ribavirine (Rbv), Micophenolic acid (MPA) and Mizoribine (MZR) have potential application as antiherpes agents in combination with acyclovir (ACV). The effectivity of action of ACV on herpesvirus replication is improved after decreasing of the concentration of dGTP as a result of IMP dehydrogenase inhibition. The antiviral effect of the combination between Rbv, MPA or MZR and ACV is reversiblle. Thus, the combinations have been shown to be effective against various herpesviruses: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and pseudorabies virus (PRV) in vitro and/or in vivo.