Compositions and methods for the treatment of norovirus infection

A method for treating a viral infection in a subject in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of a viral RNA polymerase inhibitor to the subject, wherein said viral infection is a norovirus infection, said inhibitor having the formula

• wherein:
• X1 and X2 are independently C, NH, O, or S;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid, a carboxylate ester, an amide, and an aldehyde group;
• R2 is a saturated or unsatured hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain alkyl, which has 1 to about 20 carbons and which may be interrupted with at least one oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl;
• R3 is a lower alkyl, H, or ═O;
• R4 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of straight or branched chain alkyl, which has 1 to about 20 carbons and which may be interrupted with at least one oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloakyl, and aryl;
• and
• R5 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain alkyl, which has 1 to about 20 carbons and which may be interrupted with at least one oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloakyl, and aryl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.