Efficacy of BW759 (9-[[2-hydroxy-1(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]methyl]guanine) against herpes simplex virus type 1 keratitis in rabbits.

A promising new nucleoside analog, 9-[[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy] methyl]-guanine (BW759), which is structurally similar to acyclovir, was tested against acute herpetic keratitis in the rabbit ocular model. Topical 1-0.1% BW759 given 3-5x per day gave beneficial results in that corneal epithelial involvement, conjunctivitis, iritis, and corneal clouding were reduced even when chemotherapy was initiated at 3 days postinoculation. Under the same conditions, topical BW759 therapy gave slightly better results than acyclovir, and both were better than idoxuridine therapy. Mortality rate and colonization of the trigeminal ganglia by HSV-1 were unaffected by BW759 therapy. Duration of virus, shed into the tear film was reduced by BW759.