ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the status of amantadine hydrochloride (HCl) as an antiviral agent. Although the exact mode of action of amantadine HCl is still not known, all studies indicates that it and related compounds prevent the infectious virus nucleic acid from initiating new virus growth either by blocking penetration of virus into the cell. Rimantadine HCl is closely related to amantadine HCl, and its antiviral activity and spectrum are similar. Amantadine HCl has provided an antiviral effect against influenza A group viruses in tissue culture, in chick embryos, in animals, and in man. In addition, certain other viruses have been inhibited to varying degrees in a number of tests. A variety of alicyclic compounds were synthesized, with many having antiviral activity both in tissue culture and in experimental animal systems. Cyclooctylamine HCI COA has been shown to exhibit antiviral activity in tissue culture and in vivo.
