Anti-herpes virus and cytomegalovirus polyester oligomers

A method of treating a Herpes viral infection in a patient in need thereof which comprises administering to the patient an anti-Herpes virally effective amount of an oligomer which is a polyester of the formula:

• ##STR17## wherein:
• X represents ##STR18## Y represents --CO.sub.2 --, --C.tbd.C--, --N.dbd.N, ##STR19## n is 3 to 50;
• R.sup.4 represents --R.sup.2 or X.sup.1 ;
• R.sup.5 represents ##STR20## wherein R4 is defined as above X.sup.3 represents ##STR21## Wherein R' and Y are defined as above R.sup.1 represents --SO.sub.3 R.sup.2, --CO.sub.2 R.sup.2, --PO.sub.2 (R.sup.2).sup.2 or --OPO.sub.3 R.sup.2 ;
• R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or a pharmaceutically-acceptable cation;
• and
• X.sup.1 represents a HO--X-- group, where X is defined as above, or C.sub.1-4 alkyl, phenyl, or phenyl substituted with from 1 to 2 R.sup.1 moieties and up to 3 substituents selected from a group consisting of chloro, bromo, C.sub.1-4 alkyl.