The prophylactic and therapeutic activity of a broadly active ribonucleoside analog in a murine model of intranasal venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection

The New World alphaviruses Venezuelan, Eastern, and Western equine encephalitis viruses (VEEV, EEEV and WEEV, respectively) commonly cause a febrile disease that can progress to meningoencephalitis, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. To address the need for a therapeutic agent for the treatment of Alphavirus infections, we identified and pursued preclinical characterization of a ribonucleoside analog EIDD-1931 (β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine, NHC), which has shown broad activity against alphaviruses in vitro and has a very high genetic barrier for development of resistance. To be truly effective as a therapeutic agent for VEEV infection a drug must penetrate the blood brain barrier and arrest virus replication in the brain. High plasma levels of EIDD-1931 are rapidly achieved in mice after oral dosing. Once in the plasma EIDD-1931 is efficiently distributed into organs, including brain, where it is rapidly converted to its active 5′-triphosphate. EIDD-1931 showed a good safety profile in mice after 7-day repeated dosing with up to 1000 mg/kg/day doses. In mouse model studies, EIDD-1931 was 90–100% effective in protecting mice against lethal intranasal infection when therapeutic treatment was started as late as 24 h post-infection, and partial protection was achieved when treatment was delayed for 48 h post-infection. These results support further preclinical development of EIDD-1931 as a potential anti-alphavirus drug. •A ribonucleoside analog EIDD-1931 (β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine), an inhibitor of VEEV, has been characterized in mouse model.•EIDD-1931 is orally available with successful delivery to brain tissue and conversion to the active 5′-triphosphate form.•EIDD-1931 demonstrated good tolerability in 7-day dose ranging toxicology study up to 1000 mg/kg/day.•EIDD-1931 protects mice against lethal intranasal challenge with VEEV when dosed prophylactically or therapeutically.