Benzimidazole analogs inhibit human herpesvirus 6.

Several benzimidazole nucleoside analogs, including 1H-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-2-bromo-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole (BDCRB) and 1H-beta-L-ribofuranosyl-2-isopropylamino-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole (maribavir [MBV]), inhibit the replication of human cytomegalovirus. Neither analog inhibited the related betaherpesvirus human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). Additional analogs of these compounds were evaluated against both variants of HHV-6, and two L-analogs of BDCRB had good antiviral activity against HHV-6A, as well as more modest inhibition of HHV-6B replication.