A Critical Study on Anti-Rhinovirus Activity of Ethyl 4-(3-(2-(3-Methylisoxazol-5-Yl) Ethoxy) Propoxy) Benzoate (EMEB)

The compuond EMEB has got a definite anti-Rhinovirus activity on both HRV14 (group A) and HRV39
(group B). The specific activity is lower than that found for Pirodavir used as a positive control, but,
since the cytotoxic activity of EMEB on human HeLa cells is more favourable than that of Pirodavir (50
μg/ml against 3 μg/ml), the final Protection Index is higher for EMEB (> 700) as compared to Pirodavir
(250). The current compound EMEB has the requisites for immediate passage to animal trials. EMEB
seems to be stable in aqueous solutions, since its activity after 10 days was unchanged. When EMEB
is challanged with Rhinovirus infected HeLa cells during the whole reproduction cicle, its antiviral
activity remains evident and strong even after 18 hours from infection. This fact is important because
it means that the compound keeps functioning even when the viral infection is already in progress;
this finding makes us to hypothesize that the compound EMEB could act not only as a prophylactic
agent against the common cold, but also as a therapeutic drug in patients who already show the
disease symptoms (at least within the first 24 hours from the start of symptoms). These last
statements must be confirmed with assays on the mechanism of action of the compound, by
analysing its adhesion to the cell virus internalization into the cells, the viral uncoating, transcription
and translation, and finally on viral morphogenesis. Predictive modelling studies show strong potential
for significant further improvement.