Uses of dihydro bases
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a dihydro base described herein (e.g., compound DHdC). The dihydro base may show multiple tautomerism and may increase mutation of an RNA and/or DNA of a virus or cancer cell. The dihydro base may be used to reduce DNA methylation (e.g., in a cancer cell). The present invention also provides kits including the inventive pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating a viral infection (e.g., influenza, HIV infection, or hepatitis C) or cancer using the pharmaceutical compositions or kits.
1. A method of treating a viral infection in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
a compound of the formula:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and
optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viral infection is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, hepatitis C virus infection, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, Lassa fever virus infection, or poliovirus infection.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the subject is a human.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises an additional pharmaceutical agent.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the additional pharmaceutical agent is an antiviral agent.
6. A method of increasing the mutation rate of a RNA of a virus, the method comprising contacting the virus with an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
a compound of the formula:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient;
and optionally an additional pharmaceutical agent.
7. A method of killing a virus, the method comprising contacting the virus with an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
a compound of the formula:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient;
and optionally an additional pharmaceutical agent.
8. A method of inhibiting replication of a virus, the method comprising contacting the virus with an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
a compound of the formula:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient;
and optionally an additional pharmaceutical agent.
9. The method of any one of claims 6 , 7 , and 8 , wherein the virus is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Lassa fever virus, or poliovirus.
10. A method of increasing the mutation rate of a DNA of a virus, the method comprising contacting the virus with an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
a compound of the formula:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient;
and optionally an additional pharmaceutical agent.