Ara AMP- a highly soluble new antiviral drug.

While vidarabine (Ara A) is in several ways superior to idoxuridine (IDU) it still has the disadvantages of rapid inactivation and poor solubility. The monophosphate ester or vidarabine, Ara AMP, however, is metabolized very slowly in humans and is extremely soluble with good tissue penetrance. The present study indicates that Ara AMP drops are equipotent or superior to vidarabine ointment in treatment of type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex keratitis. While iritis was significantly less in all treated groups, a suspicion of chemical side effect was raised but could not be proven in subsequent toxicity tests.