Benzimidazole analogs inhibit respiratory syncytial virus G protein function

•We used HTS to identify a lead compound that inhibited hRSV replication in vitro.•Analog compounds were characterized for structure activity relationships.•An hRSV lead compound-resistant mutant had a mutation in the hRSV G protein.•The lead compound activity in different cell types correlates with G protein function.•The lead compound did not reduce RSV pathogenicity in a cotton rat model.