USE OF ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID FOR THE PROPHYLAXIS AND/OR THERAPY OF VIRAL DISEASES

The use of active agents (A) which inhibit a component of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) signal transduction pathway, in such a way that viral replication is inhibited, is claimed in the production of pharmaceutical compositions for treating and/or preventing viral diseases. Independent claims are included for: (1) combination of preparations comprising at least two antiviral active agents, at least one of which is an agent (A), in the form of a mixture or separate components (for administration at the same or different times and/or locations); (2) a test system for screening for agents which act on component(s) of the NF-kB signal transduction pathway to inhibit viral replication, comprising: (a) cells which can be infected by virus(es) and contain the pathway and viruses which can infect the cells; or (b) cells which are infected by virus(es) and overexpress the pathway; (3) a screening method using the system, involving contacting test compound(s) with the system, assessing the results and selecting the compound(s) showing antiviral activity; and (4) the production of antiviral medicaments by incorporating active agents identified by the screening method in a suitable formulation. ACTIVITY : Virucide. In tests in C57 BI/6mice nasally infected with fowl plague virus, intranasal administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as an aerosol at a non-toxic concentration of 2 mM reduced infection by ca. 40% and also markedly increased the survival time (no quantitative results given). MECHANISM OF ACTION : Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) signal transduction pathway inhibitor.