ANTIVIRAL PEPTIDES AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS

Disclosed herein are antiviral peptides of the formula A-R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -B wherein A is from zero up to seven amino acid residues and includes a terminal hydrogen or a terminal N-acyl, or A is a phenylacetyl with optional substitution of the para position of the phenyl, R , R , R , R , R and R are various amino acid residues with the stipulation that one or more of the four amino acid residues immediately preceeding R'' may optionally be deleted, R and R are independently Val, D-Val, Nva, D-Nva, Leu, D-Leu, Nle, D-Nle, Ile or D-Ile, and B is hydroxy, amino or lower alkylamino. The antiviral activity of the peptides can be enhanced by combining them with a protease inhibitor. The peptides and the combination are useful for the treatment of herpes viral infections in mammals.