Oral and topical treatment of experimental HSV-1 genital herpes with (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine.

A genital infection was induced in guinea pigs by intravaginal inoculation with herpes simplex virus type 1 and used to assess the efficacy of BVDU administered either orally or topically. Twice daily oral treatment with BVDU was effective in preventing or reducing the severity of disease if therapy was initiated 6 or 24 h post-infection, but was ineffective if compound was first administered 48 h post-infection. BVDU was also effective topically as 2% or 5% ointments but ineffective at 1%. Topical treatment with 5% ointment was beneficial when treatment was started within 24 h of infection but not effective if initiation of treatment was delayed further.