Methods of inhibiting viral infection

Abstract

A method of inhibiting viral respiratory infection in a mammal in need of same, includes administering an effective amount of 2-[2-(5-carbamimidoyl-benzofuran-2-yl)-vinyl]-H-benzoimidazole-5-carboxamidine or the Bis-N-hydroxyamidine prodrug thereof, prior to viral infection, or therapeutically following viral infection, to inhibit that viral infection. The compound selectively inhibits Caspase 2 and/or 8 as to prevent infective viral particle release. It is optionally administered IV, IP, orally or via other conventional administration routes in a dosage range of 1 ng/kg-200 mg/kg of body weight.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.