LAVR-289, an Acyclo-Nucleoside Phosphonate, Has Broad-Spectrum Activity against Herpesviruses.

Human herpesviruses are large dsDNA viruses that primarily cause opportunistic infections in healthy adults but can trigger life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Previously, antivirals have been developed against a variety of herpesviruses; these include acyclovir for herpes simplex viruses (HSV1 and 2) and ganciclovir and letermovir for human cytomegalovirus (hCMV). However, broad-spectrum inhibitors of herpesvirus infections are still lacking. Here we report the efficacy of LAVR-289, a new acyclic nucleoside analogue, on a broad range of herpesviruses of human and animal origin. LAVR-289 displays nanomolar efficacy in vitro, is active on viral strains resistant to gold-standard antivirals and is efficacious ex vivo on reconstituted human skin infected with HSV1. In addition, the activity of LAVR-289 against poxviruses and adenoviruses is an indication of its potential for the management of opportunistic virus infections in immunocompromised patients.