Therapy of lymphogranuloma inguinale with 17,025.

Abstract

The search for effective anti-viral agents continues in many laboratories in a number of countries. A clinical trial of 7218 (2:3 dimethyl quinoxaline dioxide) in lymphogranuloma inguinale 8 years ago (Alergant, 1953) showed that although the drug was therapeutically active, toxic side-effects prevented its being regarded as a useful addition to the pharmacopoeia. Although of no value in the treatment of lymphogranuloma it is interesting to note that, despite its potential toxicity, it shows promise in quite an unexpected field, as a life-saving drug in antibiotic-resistant Ps. pyocyanea infections. Hurst and Hull (1961) working in the laboratory which produced 7218 (Hurst, Landquist, Melvin, Peters, Senior, Silk, and Stacey, 1953) have recently described the anti-viral activity of a newly synthesized compound, provisionally termed 17,025 (5 methoxy carbonyl 6 methyl 4 (5 nitrofuryl) 2 oxy 1:2:3:4: tetrahydropyrimidine), against infections with viruses of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma-trachoma group both in mice and in the developing chick embryo. They made an exhaustive comparison of its activity in relation to antibiotics and to other synthetic compounds known to act against these viruses, and they found the compound equally active against two strains of psittacosis, two of lymphogranuloma, three of trachoma, and two of inclusion blennorrhoea. The drug was essentially non-toxic and, when injected intramuscularly, produced no immediate or delayed ill-effects. Although weight for weight only a tenth or a twentieth as active as aureomycin, its very sparing solubility brings it into the category of a repository drug; in favourable circumstances a single injection of a suspension in arachis oil was found to be capable of controlling completely a virulent psittacosis infection in a majority of mice.